Microglia and Astrocytes in Alzheimer’s Disease in the Context of the Aberrant Copper Homeostasis Hypothesis

Abstract

Evidence of copper’s (Cu) involvement in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is available, but information on Cu involvement in microglia and astrocytes during the course of AD has yet to be structurally discussed. This review deals with this matter in an attempt to provide an updated discussion on the role of reactive glia challenged by excess labile Cu in a wide picture that embraces all the major processes identified as playing a role in toxicity induced by an imbalance of Cu in AD.

Keywords

• astrocyte
• microglia
• copper
• Alzheimer’s disease