Given that splenectomy does not alter the total number of activated (CD11b+) macrophages associated with amyloid plaques (Figure 4D), these effects of splenectomy are likely transduced by reduced monocyte recruitment into the brain parenchyma and are consistent with the enhanced ability of newly recruited monocytes to degrade amyloid material as compared with the resident microglia exposed to progressive amyloid pathology. This evidence concerns the gene ITGAM and amyloidosis.