Chen Yongping, Kou Yuhong, Ni Yang, Yang Haotian, Xu Cailin, Fan Honggang, Liu Huanqi
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.
Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang Province, P. R. China.
J Neuroinflammation. 2025 Mar 30;22(1):96. doi: 10.1186/s12974-025-03428-0.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by significant neuroinflammatory responses. Microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system, play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of AD. Recent studies have indicated that microglial efferocytosis is an important mechanism for clearing apoptotic cells and cellular debris, facilitating the resolution of neuroinflammation. This review summarizes the biological characteristics of microglia and the mechanisms underlying microglial efferocytosis, including the factors and signaling pathways that regulate efferocytosis, the interactions between microglia and other cells that influence this process, and the role of neuroinflammation in AD. Furthermore, we explore the role of microglial efferocytosis in AD from three perspectives: its impact on the clearance of amyloid plaques, its regulation of neuroinflammation, and its effects on neuroprotection. Finally, we summarize the current research status on enhancing microglial efferocytosis to alleviate neuroinflammation and improve AD, as well as the future challenges of this approach as a therapeutic strategy for AD.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种复杂的神经退行性疾病，其特征为显著的神经炎症反应。小胶质细胞作为中枢神经系统的免疫细胞，在AD的病理生理学中起着关键作用。最近的研究表明，小胶质细胞的噬菌作用是清除凋亡细胞和细胞碎片、促进神经炎症消退的重要机制。本综述总结了小胶质细胞的生物学特性以及小胶质细胞噬菌作用的潜在机制，包括调节噬菌作用的因素和信号通路、影响这一过程的小胶质细胞与其他细胞之间的相互作用，以及神经炎症在AD中的作用。此外，我们从三个方面探讨小胶质细胞噬菌作用在AD中的作用：其对淀粉样斑块清除的影响、对神经炎症的调节以及对神经保护的作用。最后，我们总结了目前关于增强小胶质细胞噬菌作用以减轻神经炎症和改善AD的研究现状，以及这种方法作为AD治疗策略未来面临的挑战。
