Immune Cells: A Hidden Influence on Mental Health and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Disease-associated microglia/macrophages are thought to be protective, as they participate in removing lipid-rich waste derived from tissue damage. Researchers identified two influential genes, BHLHE40 and BHLHE41, and used CRISPR-Cas9 to deactivate them in lab-grown cells, which were then transformed into microglia. The resulting microglia lacking BHLHE40 and BHLHE41 resembled disease-associated microglia observed in Alzheimer’s, showing improved ability to clear cholesterol-rich waste.