Rouach, "How do
astrocytes shape synaptic transmission?
Astrocytes, seeded in 96-well plates, were stimulated with 1 [micro]g/ml LPS for 24 h with or without isoflavones.
Astrocytes: Bidirectional Control of Blood Flow and Neuronal Function
As
astrocytes are major producers of these cytokines within the CNS, we asked whether irisin regulated the release of cytokines from
astrocytes during its protective effects on neurons.
(14) Mice deficient for the genes in this pathway (Lif, gp130, Lifr, or Stat3) show impairment of astrocytic differentiation of NSCs in vivo, indicating that JAK-STAT3 signaling is indispensable for the production of
astrocytes during brain develop ment.12)-14)-16)
In the new study, Sejnowski's team looked for the first time at the longer-term memory of mice with disrupted
astrocytes. They used genetically engineered animals lacking a receptor called type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3R2), which
astrocytes rely on to release calcium for communication.
In the brain,
astrocytes are the support cells that act as guides to direct new cells, promote chemical signaling, and clean up byproducts of brain cell metabolism.
The finding gave the scientists a unique opportunity to define how
astrocytes and GLT-1 work.
They observed that the level of expression of this gene declines naturally, a short time before
astrocyte production begins.
Thus, surprisingly, nestin does not control the generation of neurons by acting within neural stem cells, but indirectly by regulating the neurogenesis-inhibitory Notch signals that neural stem cells receive from
astrocytes, important constituents of the neurogenic niche.
Primary adult human
astrocytes and endothelial cells (Angio-Proteomie, Boston, MA) were established on plates that were initially coated with 0.2% porcine skin gelatin at room temperature.
In cells grown from people with Alzheimer's disease and in mouse
astrocytes engineered to carry a human Alzheimer's disease gene variant, the amount of NHE6 was about half the amount found in normal cells.
