Tri-culture modeling of neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and neuroprotection.

The study of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), has long been a complex and challenging task. One of the major hurdles in understanding these diseases is the difficulty in recapitulating the complex interactions between neurons, astrocytes, and microglia in a laboratory setting. In recent years, researchers have made significant progress in developing triculture models that combine these three cell types, allowing for a more accurate representation of the cellular context of the human brain. This commentary discusses the recent advancements and importance of using tri-culture model systems in clarifying the pathophysiology of AD and discusses the recent article by Kim et al. (2024) published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.