Complement C3 deficiency protects against neurodegeneration in aged plaque-rich APP/PS1 mice.

The article presents a study which shows the important role of complement C3 or downstream complement activation fragments in plaque pathology, glial responses to plaques, and neuronal dysfunction in the brains of APP/PS1 mice. The significance of complement cascade in microglia-mediated synaptic refinement during brain development is mentioned. The reduction of several proinflammatory cytokines in the brain in APP/PS1 is cited.