Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariko Kato Hayashi, Kaoru Sato, Yuko Sekino
Summary: Neurons induce astrocyte branches and make them avoid each other, potentially contributing to the tiling of astrocytes' territories.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Hong-Ju Yang, Briana J. Hempel, Guo-Hua Bi, Yi He, Hai-Ying Zhang, Eliot L. Gardner, Zheng-Xiong Xi
Summary: Glutamate negatively regulates the rewarding effects of cocaine in the nucleus accumbens, but excess glutamate in multiple brain regions can trigger reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Kyle J. Brymer, Jocelyn R. Barnes, Matthew P. Parsons
Summary: Glutamate transporter proteins play a crucial role in regulating neuronal activity, with dysfunction implicated in various CNS diseases. Rapid glutamate uptake is essential for preventing toxic accumulation and ensuring efficient excitatory network activity.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ronja Bihlmaier, Felix Deffner, Ulrich Mattheus, Peter H. Neckel, Bernhard Hirt, Andreas F. Mack
Summary: The choroid plexus is responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid in the brain ventricles and serves as a blood-CSF barrier. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy showed that ependymal cells and subependymal astrocytes in the choroid plexus expressed aquaporin-4, which may facilitate water transport. The glial plate surrounding the choroid plexus also demonstrated high AQP4 density, suggesting a possible drainage and clearing pathway for metabolites.
Article
Neurosciences
Allison R. Peterson, Terese A. Garcia, Kyle Cullion, Seema K. Tiwari-Woodruff, Ernest Pedapati, Devin K. Binder
Summary: Astrocytic glutamate transporters play a crucial role in maintaining glutamate homeostasis in the brain, and targeting glutamate uptake may be a promising therapeutic strategy for epilepsy. Upregulation of GLT-1 in astrocytes has shown to be neuroprotective, reducing seizure frequency and eliminating large behavioral seizures in epilepsy models.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Negin Saeedi, Mahgol Darvishmolla, Zohreh Tavassoli, Shima Davoudi, Soomaayeh Heysieattalab, Narges Hosseinmardi, Mahyar Janahmadi, Gila Behzadi
Summary: Opioid abuse affects synaptic plasticity and behavior like morphine dependence, with glial cells and glutamate playing key roles. GLT-1 in the hippocampus is involved in morphine dependence, and activating it can reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with chronic morphine use.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min-Ho Nam, Woojin Won, Kyung-Seok Han, C. Justin Lee
Summary: The mu-opioid receptor (MOR) is crucial for pain relief, reward, and euphoria. Recent research has discovered the presence of MOR in hippocampal astrocytes, shedding light on how astrocytic MOR participates in opioid signaling in the hippocampus. This novel mechanism involving astrocytic MOR plays a key role in hippocampus-dependent conditioned place preference.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shelley L. Forrest, Jordan Hanxi Kim, Daniel R. Crockford, Katharine Huynh, Rosie Cheong, Samantha Knott, Madison A. Kane, Lars M. Ittner, Glenda M. Halliday, Jillian J. Kril
Summary: This study maps the distribution and density of astrocytes in the human frontal cortex, revealing distinct and overlapping populations of astrocytes. The findings provide a reference map for comparative studies in various disease and injury states involving astrocytes.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ines Belo do Nascimento, Marie Verfaillie, Gamze Ates, Pauline Beckers, Virginie Joris, Nathalie Desmet, Ann Massie, Emmanuel Hermans
Summary: Astrocytes in the central nervous system play a crucial role in energy homeostasis and metabolism support, with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) being an important factor in helping cells adapt and maintain stable function under metabolic stress conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Xiao Liu, Su-Su Tang, Si-Ming Liu, Jie Zeng, Zhi-Gang Chen, Cai-Hong Liu, Rong-Hao Mu, Dan-Hua Yuan, Jia-Jia Zhao, Hao Hong, Hao Wang
Summary: Astrocyte CysLT(1)R regulates depression through modulating glutamate synaptic transmission. This finding is of significant importance for developing novel drugs for depression treatment.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhong-fang Shi, Qing Fang, Ye Chen, Li-xin Xu, Min Wu, Mei Jia, Yi Lu, Xiao-xuan Wang, Yu-jiao Wang, Xu Yan, Li-ping Dong, Fang Yuan
Summary: Methylene blue attenuates brain edema by inhibiting AQP4 expression via the ERK1/2 pathway, suggesting its potential as a treatment option for brain edema.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Hyeuk Cha, Jun Ho Choi, Hanwool Jeon, Jae Hyun Kim, Moinay Kim, Su Jung Kim, Wonhyoung Park, Joon Seo Lim, Eunyeup Lee, Jae Sung Ahn, Jeong Hoon Kim, Seok Ho Hong, Ji Eun Park, Jin Hwa Jung, Hyun Ju Yoo, Seungjoo Lee
Summary: Cognitive impairment refers to declines in cognitive abilities leading to the inability to accomplish essential activities. Astrocytes and the ANLS system are crucial for cognitive function. AQP-4, expressed in astrocytes, is associated with brain disorders, but its relationship with learning and memory is unclear. Our study found that AQP-4 deficiency in mice led to behavioral and emotional changes, impaired cognitive functions, and metabolic alterations in the brain. The deficiency of AQP-4 disrupted the metabolic function of astrocytes and the ANLS system.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Daniel C. Lu, Zsolt Zador, Jinghua Yao, Farbod Fazlollahi, Geoffrey T. Manley
Summary: This study demonstrates a protective role of AQP4 in post-traumatic seizure susceptibility by promoting astrogliosis, formation of a glial scar, and preventing microgliosis.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Osamu Nozawa, Muneaki Miyata, Hajime Shiotani, Takeshi Kameyama, Ryouhei Komaki, Tatsuhiro Shimizu, Toshihiko Kuriu, Yutaro Kashiwagi, Yuka Sato, Michinori Koebisu, Atsu Aiba, Shigeo Okabe, Kiyohito Mizutani, Yoshimi Takai
Summary: We demonstrated that co-cultured neurons induced astrocyte ramifications and formation of tripartite synapses in an in vitro system. The induction of astrocyte ramifications was dependent on neuronal activity and likely involved synaptically-released glutamate and activation of astrocytic mGluR5. Moreover, the Necl2/3 trans-interaction recruited glutamate transporters and K+ channels to the perisynaptic astrocyte processes, enhancing synapse formation and astrocyte functional polarization.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Markou, Philip Kitchen, Ahmed Aldabbagh, Mariaelena Repici, Mootaz M. Salman, Roslyn M. Bill, Zita Balklava
Summary: The AQP4 water channel plays a crucial role in brain swelling following insults like traumatic injury or stroke, with its trafficking mechanisms involving early and recycling endosomes as well as cytoskeleton dynamics. AQP4 constantly cycles between the cell surface and intracellular vesicles in mammalian cells, with internalisation being dynamin-dependent. Targeting Rab5, Rab11, and cytoskeleton dynamics could provide potential avenues for edema treatment.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2023)