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In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma
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Microglia in Alzheimer's disease: Insights into disease progression and therapy

Vaishali Saini1, Srija Mukherjee1, Chaitali Vora1

  • 1Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Advances in Immunology
|August 21, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Microglia are now recognized as key regulators in disease, not just bystanders. Understanding their metabolic reprogramming and identifying biomarkers are crucial for developing effective Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutics.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Metabolic Neuroscience

Background:

  • Microglia's role has evolved from passive bystanders to active regulators in disease pathology.
  • Microglial states now include disease-associated microglia (DAM), lipid-droplet-accumulating microglia (LDAM), senescent, and interferon-responsive phenotypes.
  • Metabolic dysregulation in microglia, involving lipid imbalance and inflammasome activation, drives chronic inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive synthesis of microglial biology across transcriptomic, metabolic, senescence, and reprogramming interfaces.
  • To highlight the translational gap in TREM2-associated therapies and the need for biomarkers and interventions.
  • To explore advanced models like iPSC-derived microglia and organoid co-cultures for therapeutic studies.

Main Methods:

  • Transcriptomic analysis of microglial states.
  • Investigation of lipid metabolism and metabolic reprogramming.
  • Assessment of cell senescence and inflammasome activation.
  • Review of TREM2-associated therapeutic strategies.
  • Utilization of iPSC-derived microglia and chimeric models.

Main Results:

  • Microglial metabolic disharmony contributes to chronic inflammation beyond basic functions.
  • The TREM2 therapeutic trajectory faces challenges in translating mechanistic insights to clinical benefits.
  • There is a critical need for identifying reliable biomarkers for disease-associated microglia.
  • Advanced models are accelerating research into microglia-mediated therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Microglia are central players in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology.
  • Microglial biology is characterized by metabolic plasticity and spatial organization within an immune-regulated microenvironment.
  • Reprogramming microglial function holds significant potential for AD therapeutics.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseInflammationMicrogliaNeurodegeneration

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