Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, responsible for defending against infections, responding to tissue damage, and maintaining homeostasis. Dysregulation of their phagocytic activity has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and the eye, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. P…
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.
