Article
Neurosciences
Yixing Du, Faith H. Brennan, Phillip G. Popovich, Min Zhou
Summary: This study investigates the role of microglia in regulating the structure and function of astrocytes in the mouse hippocampus, revealing that depletion of microglia disrupts astrocyte syncytial isopotentiality and dye coupling, leading to reduced synaptic transmission in neurons. Activation of microglia enhances synaptic transmission, while leaving astrocyte network function unaffected.
Article
Cell Biology
Giselle Cheung, Oana Chever, Astrid Rollenhagen, Nicole Quenech'du, Pascal Ezan, Joachim H. R. Luebke, Nathalie Rouach
Summary: A study found that Connexin 43 (Cx43) is enriched in astroglial processes and plays a crucial role in synaptic transmission. It was discovered that Cx43 controls synaptic glutamate levels and allows for activity-dependent glutamine release to sustain normal synaptic transmission and cognition. However, its importance in synaptic vesicle release remains unanswered.
Review
Neurosciences
Yao Liu, Xi Shen, Yuhan Zhang, Xiaoli Zheng, Carlos Cepeda, Yao Wang, Shumin Duan, Xiaoping Tong
Summary: The mammalian brain is composed of neurons, glial cells, and numerous synapses. Neurons form the complex circuitry of the brain, while glial cells, especially astrocytes and microglia, play essential roles in supporting and regulating neuronal activity. This review summarizes the latest research on how glial cells impact and remodel synapses, with a focus on microglia and oligodendrocytes. The review highlights the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuron-glia crosstalk and provides insights into how disrupted synaptic communication between neurons and glia may contribute to neural pathologies.
Review
Neurosciences
David Mazaud, Anna Capano, Nathalie Rouach
Summary: Astrocytes play a major role in the brain by contributing to functions such as energy supply, neurotransmission, and behavior. They achieve this through forming intercellular networks, releasing neuroactive factors, and using connexins to modulate neurotransmission at various levels. Astroglial connexins regulate neuronal activity and behavior through diverse functions, including gap junction channels, hemichannels, and nonchannel processes.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Francesco Randi, Andrew M. Leifer
Summary: This paper investigates the time-dependent functional connectivity between neurons in the brain, using nonequilibrium Green's functions to describe the dynamic behavior of neuron networks. Through numerical calculations and examples inspired by Caenorhabditis elegans, the relationship between connectivity and response functions is demonstrated.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Mandy S. J. Kater, Katharina F. Baumgart, Aina Badia-Soteras, Tim S. Heistek, Karen E. Carney, A. Jacob Timmerman, Jan R. T. van Weering, August B. Smit, Marjo S. van der Knaap, Huibert D. Mansvelder, Mark H. G. Verheijen, Rogier Min
Summary: Loss of function of the astrocyte membrane protein MLC1 is the main cause of Megalencephalic Leukoencephalopathy with subcortical Cysts (MLC), a rare white matter disease characterized by disrupted brain ion and water balance. MLC1 has been found to be present in astrocyte processes that closely interact with excitatory synapses, and its loss affects synaptic transmission, structural plasticity, and fear memory. This study uncovers a new role for MLC1 in regulating astrocyte-synapse interactions.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Motohiro Okada, Tomoka Oka, Misaki Nakamoto, Kouji Fukuyama, Takashi Shiroyama
Summary: Mood disorders are still a major concern in global public health, and current pharmacotherapy is not sufficient to improve or prevent these disorders. This review summarizes the effects of antidepressants, mood-stabilising antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants on astroglial connexin, revealing progress in psychopharmacology for establishing a novel treatment strategy for mood disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Michelle Corkrum, Alfonso Araque
Summary: Astrocytes respond to dopamine signaling and modulate information processing in key brain regions. They exhibit circuit-specific modulation of neuronal networks, potentially serving as a therapeutic target for dopamine pathologies.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Eva Maria Meier Carlsen, Sarah Falk, Urszula Skupio, Laurie Robin, Antonio C. Pagano Zottola, Giovanni Marsicano, Jean-Francois Perrier
Summary: The study demonstrates that cannabinoids reduce tremor associated with motor disorders by acting on cannabinoid receptors on astrocytes in the spinal cord, ultimately inhibiting excitatory synaptic transmission and decreasing tremor.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Abagael M. Lasseigne, Fabio A. Echeverry, Sundas Ijaz, Jennifer Carlisle Michel, E. Anne Martin, Audrey J. Marsh, Elisa Trujillo, Kurt C. Marsden, Alberto E. Pereda, Adam C. Miller
Summary: This study investigated the functional relationship between neuronal Connexins and ZO1, revealing that ZO1 is crucial for the localization of synaptic Connexins, while Connexins are not necessary for ZO1 localization. Disruption of this hierarchical ZO1/Connexin relationship abolishes electrical transmission and disrupts Mauthner cell-initiated escape responses.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ben Li, Xiaohan Chang, Xiaomin Liang, Ting Liu, Yongmei Shen, Qianwen Zhang, Xiaohui Yang, Yi Lyu, Liangpo Liu, Jianquan Guo, Meiqiong Wu, Yi Gao, Xiaoyan Yan, Tong Wang, WenPing Zhang, Yulan Qiu, JinPing Zheng
Summary: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that ambient fine particulate matter (PM) can lead to various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. This study reveals that PM with an aerodynamic diameter of <= 0.2 μm can induce the formation of A1 reactive astrocytes (A1s) through the activation of neuroinflammatory microglia. The A1s promote synaptic damage in neurons by secreting complement 3 (C3).
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Maria Joao Pereira, Rajagopal Ayana, Matthew G. G. Holt, Lutgarde Arckens
Summary: Astrocytes are crucial regulators of brain development and function, playing a role in synapse formation and maturation. They express G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that activate intracellular signaling pathways and modulate synaptic transmission. Manipulating astrocyte activity through genetically engineered GPCRs shows promise in improving neuronal function and behavior in both healthy and disease models, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for managing brain disorders.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sayaka Hori, Shohei Mitani
Summary: The transcription factor unc-130 plays a crucial role in optimizing avoidance behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by regulating the expression of multiple genes. It acts in parallel molecular pathways with other genes to establish specific neuronal identities for avoidance optimization.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Nagy, Katelin A. Ennis, Ru Wei, Susan C. Su, Christopher A. Hinckley, Rong-Fang Gu, Benbo Gao, Ramiro H. Massol, Chris Ehrenfels, Luke Jandreski, Ankur M. Thomas, Ashley Nelson, Stefka Gyoneva, Mihaly Hajos, Linda C. Burkly
Summary: The TWEAK/Fn14 signaling pathway has been found to acutely dampen synaptic transmission and plasticity in the adult mouse hippocampal slices. Blocking this pathway can improve synaptic function in certain models, indicating its potential therapeutic value in modifying synaptic physiology in the mature brain.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Cristina de Oliveira Figueiredo, Bianca Maria Bondiolotti, Anthony Laugeray, Paola Bezzi
Summary: 22q11 deletion syndrome is a common microdeletion syndrome in humans that increases the likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders. Synaptic and neuronal malfunctions play a central role in the symptoms observed in patients. Mitochondrial processes and the involvement of astrocytes are important in synaptic plasticity, which is crucial to the pathophysiology of the syndrome.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
