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Targeted Activation of Astrocytes: A Potential Neuroprotective Strategy

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Abstract

Astrocytes are involved in many key physiological processes in the brain, including glutamatergic transmission, energy metabolism, and blood flow control. They become reactive in response to pathological situations, a response that involves well-described morphological alterations and less characterized functional changes. The functional consequences of astrocyte reactivity seem to depend on the molecular pathway involved and may result in the enhancement of several neuroprotective and neurotrophic functions. We propose that a selective and controlled activation of astrocytes may switch these highly pleiotropic cells into therapeutic agents to promote neuron survival and recovery. This may represent a potent therapeutic strategy for many brain diseases in which neurons would benefit from an increased support from activated astrocytes.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer’s disease

ALS:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BrdU:

Bromodeoxyuridine

CNTF:

Ciliary neurotrophic factor

COX2:

Cyclooxygenase 2

GFAP:

Glial fibrillary acidic protein

FGF:

Fibroblast growth factor

KO:

Knockout

HD:

Huntington’s disease

IGF-1:

Insulin-like growth factor 1

IL:

Interleukin

iNOS:

Inducible nitric oxide synthase

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

MCAO:

Middle cerebral artery occlusion

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

NGF:

Nerve growth factor

NFκB:

Nuclear factor-κ B

NMDA:

N-Methyl-d-aspartate

PET:

Positron emission tomography

STAT3:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

SOCS3:

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

SCI:

Spinal cord injury

TGFβ:

Transforming growth factor β

TNFα:

Tumor necrosis factor α

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Acknowledgment

We thank Dr. Angela Brennan for her careful reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEA, IB2M, MIRCen, CNRS URA2210, 4, place du General Leclerc, 91401, Orsay, France

    Carole Escartin & Gilles Bonvento

  2. Department of Neurology, UCSF and VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Carole Escartin

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  1. Carole Escartin
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  2. Gilles Bonvento
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Correspondence to Carole Escartin.

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Escartin, C., Bonvento, G. Targeted Activation of Astrocytes: A Potential Neuroprotective Strategy. Mol Neurobiol 38, 231–241 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-008-8043-y

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