Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
a progressive neurodegenerative disease; the most common cause of dementia.
AP-1
a transcription factor, regulates inflammatory response.
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)
a major cholesterol carrier that supports lipid transport and injury repair in the brain; the ε4 allele is a risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease.
ATP-binding cassette transporter sub-family A and G (ABCA, ABCG)
the major transporters regulating cellular cholesterol and phospholipid homeostasis; transcriptionally regulated by LXRs.
Blood–brain barrier (BBB)
a sealed barrier isolating the brain from the rest of the body that maintains brain homeostasis by regulating the entry of molecules into the brain, composed of endothelial cells, pericytes, capillary basement membrane, and astrocyte end-feet.
Central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord.
COX-2
the enzyme catalyzes the synthesis of prostanoids, a hallmark of inflammatory response in tissue.
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)
the most commonly used experimental animal model for the human inflammatory demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis.
IL-1β
a potent proinflammatory cytokine mediating pyroptosis.
Inducible degrader of LDLR (IDOL)
an E3-ubiquitin ligase that causes ubiquitination and degradation of LDLR in lysosome and is a regulator of LDLR expression.
iNOS
an enzyme generating nitric oxide from the amino acid L-arginine; a hall mark of proinflammatory microglia/macrophages, can exacerbate oxidative injury during pathological neuroinflammation.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)
a type of stroke caused by the burst of arteries within the brain parenchyma followed by devastating outcome.
Liver X receptor (LXR)
orphan nuclear receptor with two isotypes α and β, the key regulator of lipid metabolism and inflammatory response.
Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)
a cell-surface receptor that mediates the endocytosis of cholesterol-rich low-density lipoprotein.
Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2)
one of the key chemokines that regulate migration and infiltration of monocytes/macrophages.
Multiple sclerosis
a chronic progressive autoimmune demyelinating disease, in which the CNS myelin sheath and axons are damaged, resulting in physical, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms.
NFκB
a key transcription factor required for a large number of inflammatory genes; related to proinflammatory activation of microglia/macrophages.
NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)
an intracellular sensor that detects a broad range of microbial motifs, endogenous danger signals and environmental irritants, resulting in the formation and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
STAT1
a transcription factor that can induce proinflammatory-gene expression and drive the proinflammatory phenotype of microglia/macrophages in CNS injury.
Stroke
an acute cerebrovascular event caused by disruption of blood supply to the brain, resulting in lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
SUMOylation
a process in which SUMO proteins are covalently attached to specific lysine residues in target proteins, thereby regulating various aspects of protein function, including transcription, subcellular localization, DNA repair and cell cycle.
TNFα
a powerful pro-inflammatory agent that regulates many facets of microglia/macrophage function.
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2)
a membrane protein that regulates key myeloid cell functions including phagocytosis and chemotaxis.
β-amyloid (Aβ)
the main component of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
