Model of Synapse Loss in Pre-Plaque Alzheimer Brain (IMAGE)

Boston Children's Hospital

Model of Synapse Loss in Pre-Plaque Alzheimer Brain

Caption

This schematic shows how beta-amyloid (Aß) oligomers, the classical complement cascade and microglia work together to induce synapse loss in the pre-plaque Alzheimer's disease brain. The Aß oligomers activate complement molecules (C1q and C3), causing microglia (in green) to engulf vulnerable synapses through signaling between C3 and its microglial receptor, CR3. Only in late-stage Alzheimer's do plaques and neuroinflammation (with an influx of microglia and high activation of complement) become apparent. Adapted from Hong et al., Current Opinion in Neurobiology 2016.

Credit

Credit: Lasse Dissing-Olesen, Boston Children's Hospital

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