Adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and others, are a group of neurological disorders characterized by progressive neuronal loss in the central nervous system (CNS) and the deterioration of CNS function. Multiple lines of evidence have highlighted activation of innate immune cells in the CNS, namely microglia and astrocytes, as hallmark pathological features in neurodegeneration and key drivers of disease progression. Advances in genetic, neuropathological and experimental studies also underscore the potential role of the adaptive immune system in disease pathogenesis. Here we summarize the current understanding of how adaptive immunity can shape the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and highlight cross-disease parallels and potentially shared mechanisms. We also examine cellular events leading to the recruitment of peripheral immune cells to the CNS, as well as candidate antigens driving the adaptive immune response. Last, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies to treat neurodegeneration via the manipulation of adaptive immune cells.