Harnessing microglia-based cell therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Given the growing evidence linking microglia to the onset and progression of various neurodegenerative diseases, these brain-resident macrophages have emerged as a promising cell type for targeted therapeutic interventions. This review highlights recent studies that utilized innovative, microglia-focused strategies for the treatment of diverse neurodegenerative disorders including lysosomal storage disorders, granulin frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Cutting-edge therapeutic strategies range from replacing faulty microglia with peripheral macrophage precursors or induced human pluripotent stem cell–derived microglia to engineering microglia that target toxic aggregates or deliver remediating payloads. We also examine the potential limitations as well as the clinical benefits of these strategies.