Characterizing a Novel Immune-Deficient Transgenic Alzheimer’s Model

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that is extensively researched, since the cause for its development is still unknown. Current research has demonstrated the crucial role of inflammation in disease pathogenesis. However, the focus of this research has been on the innate immune system but there is a lack of research on the adaptive immune system. Creating and characterizing the first immune-deficient AD model, Rag-5xfAD, was executed by various methods including cognitive testing, biochemical and histological analyses. Analysis of Rag-5xfAD mice revealed a significant increase of soluble, as well as insoluble, amyloid-beta (Aβ) and in several inflammatory pathways compared to immune-competent mice. These results confirmed the adaptive immune system plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. Lastly, further study is needed in order to determine mechanisms by which the adaptive immune system exerts its influence on disease pathogenesis