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Glia-Neuron Communication: Not a One-Way Street

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Glial-Neuronal Signaling in Neuroendocrine Systems

Part of the book series: Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology ((MANEURO,volume 11))

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Abstract

Obesity and its comorbidities are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. A key mechanism in the development of this disease involves dysregulation of the hypothalamus, which is a key region of the brain responsible for maintaining energy balance. Specifically, energy excess primarily due to elevated levels of fats and lipids induces a neuroinflammatory response in the hypothalamus that impairs key regulatory mechanisms that maintain energy balance. Crucially, the induction and progression of neuroinflammation involves bidirectional communication between resident neurons and immune cells called microglia. This chapter will cover the basics of inflammation, the methods used to study this phenomenon, neuronal and microglial mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation, and the ways in which these two components interact in this pathogenic state, and will provide future perspectives on targeting neuroinflammation to restore hypothalamic function and treating obesity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank members of the Belsham Lab for helpful discussions. The work from the Belsham Lab cited within was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canada Foundation for Innovation and Canada Research Chairs Program (DDB). AT was supported by NSERC, the Endocrine Society Summer Fellowship, an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), and the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre (BBDC). JTCC was supported by an NSERC undergraduate student research award.

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Author notes

  1. Andy Tran and Jim T. C. Chen contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Andy Tran, Jim T. C. Chen & Denise D. Belsham

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Denise D. Belsham

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Denise D. Belsham

Authors
  1. Andy Tran
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  2. Jim T. C. Chen
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  3. Denise D. Belsham
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Denise D. Belsham .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cell and Molecular Biology Department and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Jeffrey G. Tasker

  2. Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Jaideep S. Bains

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, CIBERobn, Madrid, Spain

    Julie A. Chowen

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Tran, A., Chen, J.T.C., Belsham, D.D. (2021). Glia-Neuron Communication: Not a One-Way Street. In: Tasker, J.G., Bains, J.S., Chowen, J.A. (eds) Glial-Neuronal Signaling in Neuroendocrine Systems. Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62383-8_7

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