microglia

IntroductionMicroglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, play a critical role in maintaining neural homeostasis and regulating inflammatory responses in the brain. Increasing evidence suggests that microglial dysfunction contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these altera…

Nature Communications, Published online: 12 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73003-5 Prion diseases cause neurodegeneration associated with microglial alteration. Here, the authors show in a prion disease mouse model that phagocytic Gpnmb⁺ microglial state reflects regional responses to cell death and lysosomal stress rather than direct sensing of amyloid fibrils.