Skip to main content

Examining the Role of Microglia and Astroglia During the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease via the Puri-Li Model

Journal of Molecular Neuroscience volume 62, pages 363–367 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

The Puri-Li kinetic model is explored here to study the contribution of microglia and astroglia during the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This is carried out by solving the Puri-Li model under steady-state conditions. The derived expressions show that both of them play a role in the pathogenesis of AD. Examination of the steady-state solutions where microglia and astroglia are involved shows that equilibrium conditions are achieved by microglia and astroglia destroying neurons. These findings from this model are in agreement with the results in the literature, where microglia and astroglia are considered to act as inflammatory cells producing toxins to destroy neurons. In addition, the study also showed that the number ratio of the total astroglial cells to the total microglial cells increases with the progression of AD. With advances in three dimensional imaging and selective staining, this ratio could be used as a valuable marker to monitor AD.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Belanger M, Magistretti P (2009) The role of astroglia in neuroprotection. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 11(3):281–295

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron B, Landreth GE (2010) Inflammation, microglia and Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol Dis 37(3):503–509

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chung K, Wallace J, Kim SY, Kalyanasundaram S, Andalman AS, Davidson TJ, Mirzabekov JJ, Zalocusky KA, Mattis J, Denisin AK, Pak S, Bernstein H, Ramakrishnan C, Grosenick L, Gradinaru V, Deisseroth K (2013) Structural and molecular interrogation of intact biological systems. Nature 497(7449):332–337. doi:10.1038/nature12107. PMID 2357563

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller S, Steele M, Munch G (2010) Activated astroglia during chronic inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease—do they neglect their neurosupportive roles? Mutation Res 690(1–2):40–49

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gleave JA, Lerch JP, Henkelman RM, Nieman BJ (2013) A method for 3D immunostaining and optical imaging of the mouse brain demonstrated in neural progenitor cells. PLoS One 8(8):e72039. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072039

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hardy J, Selkoe DJ (2002) The amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease: progress and problems on the road to therapeutics. Science 297:353–356

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heppner FL, Ransohoff RM, Becher B. (2015) Immune attack: the role of inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease. Nat Rev Neurosci 16:358–372

  • Lue LF, Kuo YM, Beach T, Walker DG (2010) Microglia activation and anti-inflammatory regulation in Alzheimer’s disease. Mol Neurobiol 41:115–128

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Miller SJ, Rothstein JD (2016) Astroglia in thick tissue with super resolution and cellular reconstruction. PLoS One 11(8):e0160391. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160391

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Perry VH, Nicoll JA, Holmes C (2010) Microglia in neurodegenerative disease. Nat Rev Neurol 6:193–201

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puri IK, Li L (2010) Mathematical modeling for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. PLoS One 5(12):e15176. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0015176

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sajovic P, Moraru E, Greene LA, Shelanski ML (1986) Selective staining of large projection neurons by monoclonal antibody to a glycoprotein of PC12 cells, J. Neurosci 6(l):82–93

  • Sastre M, Klockgether T, Heneka MT (2006) Contribution of inflammatory processes to Alzheimer’s disease: molecular mechanisms. Int J Dev Neurosci 24(2–3):167–176

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was not funded by any organization, and there are no conflicts of interest. The author thanks the anonymous referee who provided valuable advice resulting in an improvement to this paper.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. 1A, Russell St, Eastwood, NSW, 2122, Australia

    R. A. Thuraisingham

Authors
  1. R. A. Thuraisingham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. A. Thuraisingham.

Additional information

R. A. Thuraisingham is an honorary research fellow associated with the rehabilitation studies unit, Northern Clinical School University of Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thuraisingham, R.A. Examining the Role of Microglia and Astroglia During the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease via the Puri-Li Model. J Mol Neurosci 62, 363–367 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-017-0946-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-017-0946-5

Keywords

  • Mathematical model
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Microglia
  • Astroglia