Innate immune cells, particularly monocytes and macrophages, are important to tissue function throughout the body. Like all cell populations, they become dysfunction in various ways with advancing age. A particular issue is that these cells become more inflammatory. These cells are not present in the brain to any great degree; the brain has its own population of analogous cells called microglia. Thus it is interesting to see that delivering functional, youthful monocytes and macrophages into circulation can improve function in the aging brain. There are likely many indirect mechanisms at work beyond the question of the chronic inflammation of a…
Treating Neurodegeneration with Monocytes and Macrophages Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Innate immune cells, particularly monocytes and macrophages, are important to tissue function throughout the body. Like all cell populations, they become dysfunction in various ways with advancing age. A particular issue is that these cells become more inflammatory. These cells are not present in the brain to any great degree; the brain has its own population of analogous cells called microglia. Thus it is interesting to see that delivering functional, youthful monocytes and macrophages into circulation can improve function in the aging brain. There are likely many indirect mechanisms at work beyond the question of the chronic inflammation of a…