Cell Type Rankings
Overview <table class="infobox infobox-cell">
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Cell Type Rankings
Overview <table class="infobox infobox-cell">
This page ranks cell types relevant to neurodegenerative diseases by various criteria including disease relevance, research activity, therapeutic potential, and knowledge base coverage in NeuroWiki.
Rankings by Alzheimer's Disease Relevance
Rankings by Parkinson's Disease Relevance
Rankings by ALS Relevance
Rankings by Therapeutic Potential Cell types and cell-based therapies with highest potential:
Cell Type Categories
Neurons
[Cortical neurons](/cell-types/cortical-neurons) — principal cells in cerebral [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex)
[Dopaminergic neurons](/cell-types/dopaminergic-neurons) — midbrain neurons lost in PD
[Motor neurons](/cell-types/motor-neurons) — spinal cord neurons lost in ALS
[GABAergic neurons](/cell-types/gabaergic-neurons) — inhibitory neurons
[Cholinergic neurons](/cell-types/cholinergic-neurons) — basal forebrain neurons lost in AD
Glial Cells
[Microglia](/cell-types/microglia) — brain immune cells, CNS surveillance
[Astrocytes](/cell-types/astrocytes) — metabolic support, neurotransmitter recycling
[Oligodendrocytes](/cell-types/oligodendrocytes) — myelin-producing cells
[Schwan cells](/cell-types/schwann-cells) — peripheral myelin
Supporting Cells
[Pericytes](/cell-types/pericytes) — capillary perivascular cells
[Endothelial cells](/cell-types/endothelial-cells) — blood-brain barrier
[Choroid plexus epithelial cells](/cell-types/choroid-plexus) — CSF production
Stem Cells
[Neural stem cells](/cell-types/neural-stem-cells) — brain regeneration capacity
[iPSC-derived neurons](/cell-types/ipsc-derived-neurons) — patient-specific models
Key Cell Type Pathways
Neuroinflammation Microglia and astrocytes become activated in neurodegenerative diseases, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) that contribute to neuronal death[@microglia2019]. The [TREM2](/proteins/trem2) receptor on microglia is critical for Aβ clearance and has become a major therapeutic target.
Protein Aggregation Neurons accumulate aggregated proteins (Aβ, tau, α-syn, TDP-43) that form toxic inclusions. Cellular clearance mechanisms ([autophagy](/entities/autophagy), ubiquitin-proteasome) become impaired[@cellular2010].
Cell-Cell Interactions
Neuron-microglia signaling
Astrocyte-neuron metabolic coupling
Oligodendrocyte-axon metabolic support
Blood-brain barrier crosstalk
See Also
[Cortical neurons](/cell-types/cortical-neurons)
[Dopaminergic neurons](/cell-types/dopaminergic-neurons)
[Motor neurons](/cell-types/motor-neurons)
[GABAergic neurons](/cell-types/gabaergic-neurons)
[Cholinergic neurons](/cell-types/cholinergic-neurons)
[Microglia](/cell-types/microglia)
[Astrocytes](/cell-types/astrocytes)
[Oligodendrocytes](/cell-types/oligodendrocytes)
External Links
[PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
[KEGG Pathways](https://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway.html)
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