Disease Associated Microglia (Dam) is a cell type relevant to neurodegenerative disease research. This page covers its role in brain function, involvement in disease processes, and significance for therapeutic strategies.
Disease-associated microglia (DAM), also known as neurodegenerative disease-associated microglia (NAM), represent a specialized microglial activation state observed in various neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS. DAM cells adopt a distinct transcriptional profile that differs from both surveilling (homeostatic) microglia and inflammatory (M1) microglia[1][2].
| Gene | Function | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| TREM2 | Triggering receptor on myeloid cells 2 | Amyloid clearance, microglial survival |
| APOE | Apolipoprotein E | Lipid transport, Aβ binding |
| CLEC7A | C-type lectin domain family 7 member A | Fungal recognition, immune modulation |
| ITGAX | CD11c | Enhanced phagocytosis |
| CD68 | Macrosialin | Lysosomal marker |
In AD, DAM cells cluster around amyloid plaques and adopt a protective phenotype in early disease stages, attempting to clear toxic protein aggregates. However, chronic DAM activation can become maladaptive[3]:
In PD and related synucleinopathies, DAM cells respond to α-synuclein aggregates:
DAM-like cells in ALS show:
DAM signatures in CSF or blood may serve as:
The study of Disease Associated Microglia (Dam) has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Keren-Shaul et al. (2017). A Unique Microglia Type Associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Cell, 171(5), 1276-1290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.10.050 ↩︎
Deczkowska et al. (2018). Disease-Associated Microglia: A Universal Immune Sensor of Neurodegeneration. Cell, 173(5), 1073-1081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.003 ↩︎
Hansen et al. (2018). TREM2 in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 13(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-018-0293-1 ↩︎