Brain Immune Cells Protect Neurons in Parkinson's Disease by 'Nibbling' Harmful Material

Study uncovers a protective role for microglia in Parkinson's disease

Researchers at the University of Oxford have uncovered a previously unrecognized protective role for microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, in Parkinson's disease.

Microglia Can 'Nibble Away’ Toxic Proteins to Protect Neurons in Parkinson’s Disease

Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized protective role for the brain’s immune cells in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Brain immune cells protect neurons in Parkinson's disease by 'nibbling' harmful material

Researchers at the University of Oxford have uncovered a previously unrecognized protective role for microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, in Parkinson's disease. The study shows that a distinct population of human microglia can selectively remove harmful clumps (aggregates) of the Parkinson's-causing protein alpha-synuclein from dopamine-producing neurons. The research is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Microglia Rescue Vulnerable Dopamine Neurons in Parkinson's

Summary: Researchers at the University of Oxford have discovered that human microglia can selectively prune away toxic alpha-synuclein aggregates from dopamine-producing neurons without destroying the host nerve cells. Utilizing co-cultures of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons and microglia, the team demonstrated that microglia employ “trogocytosis”, a precise cellular nibbling mechanism, regulated by GPNMB, P2RY12, and …