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Systemic infections and inflammation affect chronic neurodegeneration

Nature Reviews Immunology volume 7, pages 161–167 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

It is well known that systemic infections cause flare-ups of disease in individuals with asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, and that relapses in multiple sclerosis can often be associated with upper respiratory-tract infections. Here we review evidence to support our hypothesis that in chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, with an ongoing innate immune response in the brain, systemic infections and inflammation can cause acute exacerbations of symptoms and drive the progression of neurodegeneration.

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Figure 1: Models of activation of microglia.
Figure 2: Microglial priming and phenotypic switching without morphological change.
Figure 3: Fluctuating symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.

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Acknowledgements

Work in the authors' laboratories was supported by the Alzheimer's Research Trust, the UK Medical Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust.

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  1. V. Hugh Perry, Colm Cunningham and Clive Holmes are at the Southampton Neuroscience Group, School of Biological Sciences and School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK.,

    V. Hugh Perry, Colm Cunningham & Clive Holmes

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  1. V. Hugh Perry
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Correspondence to V. Hugh Perry.

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Perry, V., Cunningham, C. & Holmes, C. Systemic infections and inflammation affect chronic neurodegeneration. Nat Rev Immunol 7, 161–167 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri2015

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