Compounds that stimulate the immune system to clear amyloid-β (Aβ) could have therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Michaud et al. showed that systemic injections of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) — a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist that has immunomodulatory properties — reduced Aβ load in the brain and enhanced cognitive function in a mouse model. At a cellular level, MPLA induced a strong phagocytic response by microglia (but only triggered a low inflammatory response).
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Michaud, J-. P. et al. Toll-like receptor 4 stimulation with the detoxified ligand monophosphoryl lipid A improves Alzheimer's disease-related pathology Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 110, 1941–1946 (2013)
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Harrison, C. Toll-like receptor 4 agonist shows benefit in AD. Nat Rev Drug Discov 12, 190 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd3965
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd3965
