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Artist’s rendition of a neuron silhouetted against a glowing red background.
SNO-y Protein Levels Help Explain Why More Women Develop Alzheimer’s
Female postmortem brains contain more S-nitrosylated C3 proteins, likely linked to menopause, which instruct immune cells to kill neuronal synapses.
SNO-y Protein Levels Help Explain Why More Women Develop Alzheimer’s
SNO-y Protein Levels Help Explain Why More Women Develop Alzheimer’s

Female postmortem brains contain more S-nitrosylated C3 proteins, likely linked to menopause, which instruct immune cells to kill neuronal synapses.

Female postmortem brains contain more S-nitrosylated C3 proteins, likely linked to menopause, which instruct immune cells to kill neuronal synapses.

microglia

Chiara Zurzolo and Ranabir Chakraborty stand next to a computer monitor displaying a microscopy image
Microglia Rescue Aggregate-Burdened Neurons
Charlene Lancaster, PhD | Jun 12, 2023 | 4 min read
Researchers discover that neurons trade protein aggregates for microglial-derived mitochondria through tunneling nanotubes. 
Human brain stock photo
New Insight into Brain Inflammation Inspires New Hope for Epilepsy Treatment
Deanna MacNeil, PhD | Jan 23, 2023 | 3 min read
Clinicians and researchers teamed up to investigate how inappropriate proinflammatory mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of drug-refractory epilepsy.
Capturing Brain Complexity in Assembloids 
Capturing Brain Complexity in Assembloids
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
In this webinar, Jimena Andersen and Jens Schwamborn will describe the next-generation brain organoids that combine multiple brain regions and cell types in 3D cultures.
Panels showing different kinds of microglia
Mapping Tool Reveals Microglia’s Shape-Shifting Secrets
Angie Voyles Askham, Spectrum | Dec 14, 2022 | 4 min read
The approach could help test hypotheses about how atypical function of the brain’s immune cells contributes to autism.
Microglia stained black
Opinion: Harnessing Microglia Cells to Stave Off Neurodegeneration
Kristine Zengeler, The Conversation | Dec 8, 2022 | 5 min read
Dialing up the activity of a protein called SYK in the brain’s “janitors” could provide an avenue to treat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
800x560-oct-5-2021
Technique Talk: Live-Cell Imaging Strategies to Quantify Phagocytosis
The Scientist Creative Services Team in collaboration with Sartorius | 1 min read
Discover how to image and quantitate phagocytosis in real time
Rendering of a light blue NLRP3 inflammasome against a black background
Inflammation in Brain’s Immune Cells Triggers Depressive Behavior in Mice
Dan Robitzski | Nov 17, 2022 | 5 min read
In stressful conditions, specialized protein complexes in microglia induce neurotoxic activity in astrocytes that leads to the change in behavior.
illustration of neurons in blue and microglia in orange
Ancient Viral DNA Helps Mouse Brains Fight Infection
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Oct 24, 2022 | 3 min read
Mammals that give birth to live young may have evolved to make use of the remnants of viruses in their genomes to ward off pathogens, a study suggests. 
LabTalk Podcast - Understanding Microglial Response in Alzheimer’s Disease
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team and 10x Genomics | 1 min read
Single-cell technologies reveals subpopulations of microglia that play distinct roles in diseased and healthy brains.
Artist&rsquo;s rendition of multiple <em>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</em>, the bacteria that causes gonorrhea, depicted as two spheres stuck together, each covered in tendrils.
Gonorrhea-Blocking Mutation Also Protects Against Alzheimer’s: Study
Holly Barker, PhD | Aug 5, 2022 | 4 min read
Research traces the evolution of a gene variant that reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, finding that it originally evolved in response to infectious bacteria.
Illustration of peach-colored microglia among light blue neurons. Both cell types are illustrated with multiple jagged extensions coming out of a spherical cell body.
Mouse Immune Cells Destroy Nerves’ Coating, Causing Chronic Pain
Patience Asanga | Jun 9, 2022 | 3 min read

A study suggests a way in which acute nerve injury could trigger an autoimmune response that leads to continuing pain in mice.

Breaking Down Barriers
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
Looking at the future of neurodegeneration research!
Ramified cells in a lilac background
Could Vitamin Supplementation Help Alzheimer’s Patients?
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Apr 11, 2022 | 8 min read
Niacin, a form of vitamin B3 used to treat cardiovascular disease, helps immune cells in the brain fight neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s in mice models, according to recent studies. Researchers hope that human clinical trials will swiftly follow.
Image of brain cells showing pyramidal neurons in green, astrocytes in red, and microglia in blue
Replacing Microglia Treats Neurodegenerative Disease in Mice
Shawna Williams | Mar 17, 2022 | 2 min read
Researchers find a way to wipe out the brain’s immune cell corps and send in new and improved versions.
Translucent, red-orange organs are shown inside a person’s transparent, blue torso. One region zooms in on blue lung alveoli covered by bright orange microbes.
Bacteria in the Lungs Can Regulate Autoimmunity in Rat Brains
Dan Robitzski | Mar 17, 2022 | 4 min read
Making specific alterations to the bacterial population in a rat’s lungs either better protects the animals against multiple sclerosis–like symptoms or makes them more vulnerable, a study finds—the first demonstration of a lung-brain axis.
Artist’s rendering of brain fog: a bright blue drawing of a brain sits inside of a pink drawing of a head in profile surrounded by miscellaneous shapes
Brain Fog Caused by Long COVID and Chemo Appear Similar
Dan Robitzski | Jan 28, 2022 | 6 min read
Data from mouse models for mild coronavirus infections and human tissue samples offer further evidence that it doesn’t take a severe infection—or even infection of brain cells at all—to cause long-term neurological symptoms.
Brain cells with electrical firing. 3D rendering.
Microglia as Therapeutic Targets in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Sruthi S. Balakrishnan | Oct 1, 2021 | 10+ min read
Pharmaceutical companies ramp up efforts to get the brain’s immune cells to help treat Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions, but not everyone agrees the approach will be effective.
One white mouse with red eyes runs on a blue exercise wheel, while another mouse stands with front paws on the wheel
Serious Infections Linked to Autism: Study
Abby Olena, PhD | Sep 17, 2021 | 5 min read
In both a mouse model and the hospital records of more than 3 million children, researchers found a connection between strong immune activation in males and later symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
artistic drawing of neuron filled with tau proteins
Genes for Alcohol Use Disorder and Alzheimer’s Risk Overlap: Study
Emma Yasinski | Aug 24, 2021 | 4 min read
Genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic data reveal molecular mechanisms tying these disorders to each other and to immune disfunction.
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