Genetic, Transcriptome, Proteomic, and Epidemiological Evidence for Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Polymicrobial Brain Invasion as Determinant Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease

Carter, Chris J.

A␤ is conveyed to the extracellular space [112] . The bone marrow is the hematopoietic source of red and white blood cells and platelets [113] , and bone marrow B cells rapidly respond to infection. The parathyroid gland expresses many AD genes and also plays a role in hematopoiesis [114, 115] . Other immune related areas enriched in AD genes include the appendix, spleen, tonsils, the lymph nodes, and the bronchus and neutrophils. The appendix is an important component of mucosal immune function, particularly B cell-mediated immune responses and extrathymically derived T-lymphocytes [116] . The tonsils and nasopharynx, also enriched in AD genes, play an important role in the initial defense against respiratory pathogens [117] and against those capable of entering the brain via the olfactory route. These include Herpes viruses (HSV-1 and HHV6), the Borna disease virus, the influenza A virus [14] , and C. pneumoniae [118] .