Targeting Macrophage for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that specifically affects motor neurons in the brain and in the spinal cord. Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis usually die from respiratory failure within 3 to 5 years from when the symptoms first appear. Currently, there is no cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that dismantling of neuromuscular junction is an early event in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.


CONCLUSION
It is starting to realized that macrophage malfunction contributes to the disruption of neuromuscular junction. Modulation of macrophage activation states may stabilize neuromuscular junction and provide protection against motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
['Li|Lian|L|', 'Liu|Jie|J|', 'She|Hua|H|']
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis D000818:Animals D016503:Drug Delivery Systems D006801:Humans D008264:Macrophages D009469:Neuromuscular Junction
macrophage Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis neuromuscular junction activation
states inflammation peripheral nerve system.