Microglial activation in early stages of amyloid β protein deposition

The present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship of microglial activation to amyloid β protein (Aβ) deposition, particularly at the early stage. Using single and double immunostaining methods with a panel of microglia markers and antibodies against Aβ and amyloid β protein precursor (APP), we examined the cerebrum and cerebella of both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and non-demented subjects obtained at autopsy. In non-demented, middle-aged subjects that had small amounts of cerebral Aβ deposits, approximately 70% of the diffuse plaques contained ramified microglia. However, no evidence of microglial activation was found in diffuse plaques in any of the non-demented subjects. Dual immunostaining of sections of cerebral cortex using antibodies against Aβ and major histocompatibility complex class II antigen showed that in AD subjects, approximately 20% of total diffuse plaques contained a few, activated microglia. Most of these plaques were defined as a transitional form between diffuse and primitive plaques. Both primitive and classic plaques in the cerebral cortex of AD subjects consistently contained clusters of activated microglia. Subpial Aβ deposits without neuritic changes lacked microglial activation. In the cerebellum, all of the diffuse plaques lacked microglial activation, and activated microglia in the compact plaques were not as hypertrophic as those in cerebral primitive/classic plaques. Our findings indicate that microglial reactions are absent in the early stages of Aβ deposition, and it occurs during the transition from diffuse to primitive plaques, when amounts of Aβ deposits and the degree of neuritic changes increase. Received: 17 January 1997 / Revised, accepted: 7 April 1997