Chemotactic signaling, microglia, and Alzheimer's disease senile plaques: is there a connection? 2003

Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, 179 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 021 15-5896, USA. magdalena.luca@mcp.edu

Chemotactic cells known as microglia are involved in the inflammation associated with pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigate conditions that lead to aggregation of microglia and formation of local accumulations of chemicals observed in AD senile plaques. We develop a model for chemotaxis in response to a combination of chemoattractant and chemorepellent signaling chemicals. Linear stability analysis and numerical simulations of the model predict that periodic patterns in cell and chemical distributions can evolve under local attraction, long-ranged repulsion, and other constraints on concentrations and diffusion coefficients of the chemotactic signals. Using biological parameters from the literature, we compare and discuss the applicability of this model to actual processes in AD.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008959 Models, Neurological Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of the neurological system, processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Neurologic Models,Model, Neurological,Neurologic Model,Neurological Model,Neurological Models,Model, Neurologic,Models, Neurologic
D009716 Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted Computer-assisted study of methods for obtaining useful quantitative solutions to problems that have been expressed mathematically. Analysis, Computer-Assisted Numerical,Computer-Assisted Numerical Analysis,Analyses, Computer-Assisted Numerical,Analysis, Computer Assisted Numerical,Computer Assisted Numerical Analysis,Computer-Assisted Numerical Analyses,Numerical Analyses, Computer-Assisted,Numerical Analysis, Computer Assisted
D002449 Cell Aggregation The phenomenon by which dissociated cells intermixed in vitro tend to group themselves with cells of their own type. Aggregation, Cell,Aggregations, Cell,Cell Aggregations
D002633 Chemotaxis The movement of cells or organisms toward or away from a substance in response to its concentration gradient. Haptotaxis
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000544 Alzheimer Disease A degenerative disease of the BRAIN characterized by the insidious onset of DEMENTIA. Impairment of MEMORY, judgment, attention span, and problem solving skills are followed by severe APRAXIAS and a global loss of cognitive abilities. The condition primarily occurs after age 60, and is marked pathologically by severe cortical atrophy and the triad of SENILE PLAQUES; NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES; and NEUROPIL THREADS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1049-57) Acute Confusional Senile Dementia,Alzheimer's Diseases,Dementia, Alzheimer Type,Dementia, Senile,Presenile Alzheimer Dementia,Senile Dementia, Alzheimer Type,Alzheimer Dementia,Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset,Alzheimer Disease, Late Onset,Alzheimer Sclerosis,Alzheimer Syndrome,Alzheimer Type Senile Dementia,Alzheimer's Disease,Alzheimer's Disease, Focal Onset,Alzheimer-Type Dementia (ATD),Dementia, Presenile,Dementia, Primary Senile Degenerative,Early Onset Alzheimer Disease,Familial Alzheimer Disease (FAD),Focal Onset Alzheimer's Disease,Late Onset Alzheimer Disease,Primary Senile Degenerative Dementia,Senile Dementia, Acute Confusional,Alzheimer Dementias,Alzheimer Disease, Familial (FAD),Alzheimer Diseases,Alzheimer Type Dementia,Alzheimer Type Dementia (ATD),Alzheimers Diseases,Dementia, Alzheimer,Dementia, Alzheimer-Type (ATD),Familial Alzheimer Diseases (FAD),Presenile Dementia,Sclerosis, Alzheimer,Senile Dementia
D000682 Amyloid A fibrous protein complex that consists of proteins folded into a specific cross beta-pleated sheet structure. This fibrillar structure has been found as an alternative folding pattern for a variety of functional proteins. Deposits of amyloid in the form of AMYLOID PLAQUES are associated with a variety of degenerative diseases. The amyloid structure has also been found in a number of functional proteins that are unrelated to disease. Amyloid Fibril,Amyloid Fibrils,Amyloid Substance,Fibril, Amyloid,Fibrils, Amyloid,Substance, Amyloid
D015398 Signal Transduction The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway. Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal
D017628 Microglia The third type of glial cell, along with astrocytes and oligodendrocytes (which together form the macroglia). Microglia vary in appearance depending on developmental stage, functional state, and anatomical location; subtype terms include ramified, perivascular, ameboid, resting, and activated. Microglia clearly are capable of phagocytosis and play an important role in a wide spectrum of neuropathologies. They have also been suggested to act in several other roles including in secretion (e.g., of cytokines and neural growth factors), in immunological processing (e.g., antigen presentation), and in central nervous system development and remodeling. Microglial Cell,Cell, Microglial,Microglial Cells,Microglias

Related Publications

Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
January 1991, Acta neuropathologica,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
January 2005, Folia neuropathologica,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
January 2006, The review of diabetic studies : RDS,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
January 1994, Acta neuropathologica,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
October 1990, Postgraduate medicine,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
March 1990, Environmental geochemistry and health,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
July 1999, Nature,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
August 2011, Current Alzheimer research,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
November 2009, Neurobiology of aging,
Magdalena Luca, and Alexandra Chavez-Ross, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet, and Alex Mogilner
June 1997, Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences,
Copied contents to your clipboard!