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Neuroglial Roots of Neurodegenerative Diseases?

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Abstract

Neuroglia is critically important for controlling the brain homeostasis and for mounting the brain defence against pathological insults. Here, we overview recent data about the role of neuroglia in various types of neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, fronto-temporal dementia, Wernicke encephalopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia). In all these forms of neurodegeneration, astroglia undergoes complex morphological and functional changes. The early and mid-term stages of neurodegenerative processes, and specifically of Alzheimer’s disease, are associated with generalised atrophy of astroglia, whereas the later stages are characterised with an astrogliosis and microglial activation linked to neuropathological lesions such as senile plaques. Atrophic changes in astroglia may contribute to the initial cognitive deficits due to reduced glial synaptic coverage and decreased neuroprotection.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mrs. Markel Olabarria and Harun N. Noristani for their help and assistance in the preparation of the figures. Authors’ research was supported by Alzheimer’s Research Trust (UK) Programme Grant (ART/PG2004A/1) to AV and JJR; by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GACR 309/09/1696) to JJR and (GACR 305/08/1381 and GACR 305/08/1384) to AV and by the Government of the Basque Country grants (AE-2010-1-28; AEGV10/16) to JJR.

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  1. IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011, Bilbao, Spain

    José Julio Rodríguez & Alexei Verkhratsky

  2. Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940, Leioa, Spain

    José Julio Rodríguez & Alexei Verkhratsky

  3. Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PT, Manchester, UK

    Alexei Verkhratsky

  4. Institute of Experimental Medicine, ASCR, Prague, Czech Republic

    José Julio Rodríguez & Alexei Verkhratsky

  5. IKERBASQUE, Department of Neuroscience, The University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Technological Park, Bldg. 205, Floor -1, Laida Bidea, 48170, Zamudio, Bizkaia, Spain

    José Julio Rodríguez

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Correspondence to Alexei Verkhratsky.

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Rodríguez, J.J., Verkhratsky, A. Neuroglial Roots of Neurodegenerative Diseases?. Mol Neurobiol 43, 87–96 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-010-8157-x

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