TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeting astrocytes in brain injuries
T2 - A translational research approach
AU - Barreto, George E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - In the brain, the astrocentric view has increasingly changed in the past few years. The classical and old view of astrocytes as “just supporting cells” has assigned these cells some functions to help neurons maintain their homeostasis. This neuronal supportive function of astrocytes includes maintenance of ion and extracellular pH equilibrium, neuroendocrine signaling, metabolic support, clearance of glutamate and other neurotransmitters, and antioxidant protection. However, recent findings have shed some light on the new roles, some controversial though, performed by astrocytes that might change our view about the central nervous system functioning. Since astrocytes are important for neuronal survival, it is a potential approach to favor astrocytic functions in order to improve the outcome. Such translational strategies may include the use of genetically targeted proteins, and/or pharmacological therapies by administering androgens and estrogens, which have shown promising results in vitro and in vivo models. It is noteworthy that successful strategies reviewed in here shall be extrapolated to human subjects, and this is probably the next step we should move on.
AB - In the brain, the astrocentric view has increasingly changed in the past few years. The classical and old view of astrocytes as “just supporting cells” has assigned these cells some functions to help neurons maintain their homeostasis. This neuronal supportive function of astrocytes includes maintenance of ion and extracellular pH equilibrium, neuroendocrine signaling, metabolic support, clearance of glutamate and other neurotransmitters, and antioxidant protection. However, recent findings have shed some light on the new roles, some controversial though, performed by astrocytes that might change our view about the central nervous system functioning. Since astrocytes are important for neuronal survival, it is a potential approach to favor astrocytic functions in order to improve the outcome. Such translational strategies may include the use of genetically targeted proteins, and/or pharmacological therapies by administering androgens and estrogens, which have shown promising results in vitro and in vivo models. It is noteworthy that successful strategies reviewed in here shall be extrapolated to human subjects, and this is probably the next step we should move on.
KW - Brain pathologies
KW - Cognition
KW - Glial scar
KW - Neuroendocrine
KW - Neuroprotection
KW - Reactive astrocytes
KW - Translational strategies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84989860890&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.09.001
DO - 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.09.001
M3 - Editorial
C2 - 27659056
AN - SCOPUS:84989860890
SN - 0301-0082
VL - 144
SP - 1
EP - 4
JO - Progress in Neurobiology
JF - Progress in Neurobiology
ER -