T cells in Alzheimer's disease: space invaders

Historically, neurons have been the focus of Alzheimer's disease research because neuronal loss is associated with clinical manifestions of the disease. But evidence from genetic, clinical, and experimental studies 1 Labzin LI Heneka MT Latz E Innate Immunity and Neurodegeneration. Annu Rev Med. 2018; 69: 437-449 Crossref PubMed Scopus (169) Google Scholar shows that the immune system—most notably its innate axis—also contributes to Alzheimer's disease. However, this is only one part of the story. Tony Wyss-Coray and colleagues report in Nature2 Gate D Saligrama N Leventhal O et al. Clonally expanded CD8 T cells patrol the cerebrospinal fluid in Alzheimer's disease. Nature. 2020; 577: 399-404 Crossref PubMed Scopus (291) Google Scholar that the adaptive immune system can also have a role.