Close Association of Myeloperoxidase-Producing Activated Microglia with Amyloid Plaques in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits.

Microglial activation and oxidative stress have been linked to the formation of amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Epidemiologic and experimental evidence also suggests that cholesterol (CH) contributes to the pathogenesis of AD, particularly the formation of amyloid plaques. We have previously described the development of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in New Zealand white rabbits maintained on a 0.125%-0.25% w/w CH diet for extended periods of time (28 months). Here we further characterize this model with combined immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining to evaluate markers of immune cell activation. Five out of eight CH-fed rabbits, but not control rabbits, developed extracellular Aβ plaques in both the hippocampus and cortex. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher CD11b microglial staining was found in the hippocampus, temporal cortex, and frontal cortex of CH-fed versus control rabbits. In the temporal cortex and parietal cortex, active CD-11b- and ferritin-positive microglia were found in close proximity to Aβ plaques. Classification and quantification of activated microglia in the temporal cortex showed that 68±12.9%, 25±7.3%, and 7±2.7% of all microglia had a primed, reactive, and amoeboid phenotype, respectively. Activated microglia also expressed myeloperoxidase which was co-localized to amyloid deposits. Our findings in this dietary-based model lend further support of a role of activated microglia and oxidative stress during the development of AD and strengthens the links between hypercholesterolemia, inflammatory status, and AD.