Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.0
6.0
Journals
Cells
Special Issues
The Function of Astrocytes in Neurodegenerative Diseases
share announcement

The Function of Astrocytes in Neurodegenerative Diseases

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cells of the Nervous System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2023) | Viewed by 5657

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Madhavan Nampoothiri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
Interests: neurobiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Accumulating studies have shown that neuroglia is not merely a passive bystander in the central nervous system but rather dynamically take part in the activities of nervous tissue. Among the glial cells, astrocytes are the largest and most numerous. Astrocytes with microfilaments support the neurons and also control neuronal excitability by regulating neurotransmitter and ion homeostasis. Processes of astrocytes along with endothelial cells and pericytes play a major role in maintaining the structural integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Thus, astrocytes assist the neurons structurally and metabolically. Faulty astrocyte function and pathological stimuli transforming normal astrocytes into reactive astrocytes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Consequently, impaired astrocytic neurotransmitter signaling is involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders.  

Understanding the role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders and dissecting their impact on behavioral and cognitive dysfunction is of utmost importance to increase our existing knowledge of this topic. Therefore, in this special issue, we aim to emphasize the cutting-edge advances in the study of the role of astrocytes in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders. We are pleased to invite you to submit research articles, reviews and communications covering any aspect of astrocytic involvement in neurodegeneration. 

Dr. Madhavan Nampoothiri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • astrocytes
  • glia
  • neurodegeneration
  • astrogliosis
  • epigenetic
  • neuroinflammation
  • neuroprotection
  • synapse
  • neural plasticity
  • cognitive dysfunction

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 3683 KiB  
Article
Isoalantolactone (IAL) Regulates Neuro-Inflammation and Neuronal Apoptosis to Curb Pathology of Parkinson’s Disease
by Dewei He, Yanting Liu, Jie Li, Hefei Wang, Bojian Ye, Yuan He, Zhe Li, Xiyu Gao, Shoupeng Fu and Dianfeng Liu
Cells 2022, 11(18), 2927; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11182927 - 19 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2304
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease in which neuronal apoptosis and associated inflammation are involved in its pathogenesis. However, there is still no specific treatment that can stop PD progression. Isoalantolactone (IAL) plays a role in many inflammation-related diseases. However, its effect [...] Read more.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease in which neuronal apoptosis and associated inflammation are involved in its pathogenesis. However, there is still no specific treatment that can stop PD progression. Isoalantolactone (IAL) plays a role in many inflammation-related diseases. However, its effect and mechanism in PD remain unclear. In this study, results showed that IAL administration ameliorated 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD-related pathological impairment and decreased motor activity in mice. Results from in vitro mechanistic studies showed that IAL regulated apoptosis-related proteins by activating the AKT/Nrf2 pathway, thereby suppressing the apoptosis of SN4741 cells induced by N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium Iodide (MPP+). On the other hand, IAL inhibited LPS-induced release of pro-inflammatory mediators in BV2 cells by activating the AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. In addition, IAL protected SN4741 from microglial activation-mediated neurotoxicity. Taken together, these results highlight the beneficial role of IAL as a novel therapy and potential PD drug due to its pharmacological profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Function of Astrocytes in Neurodegenerative Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 2304 KiB  
Review
Astrocytic MicroRNAs and Transcription Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease and Therapeutic Interventions
by Ajmal Nassar, Triveni Kodi, Sairaj Satarker, Prasada Chowdari Gurram, Dinesh Upadhya, Fayaz SM, Jayesh Mudgal and Madhavan Nampoothiri
Cells 2022, 11(24), 4111; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11244111 - 17 Dec 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2812
Abstract
Astrocytes are important for maintaining cholesterol metabolism, glutamate uptake, and neurotransmission. Indeed, inflammatory processes and neurodegeneration contribute to the altered morphology, gene expression, and function of astrocytes. Astrocytes, in collaboration with numerous microRNAs, regulate brain cholesterol levels as well as glutamatergic and inflammatory [...] Read more.
Astrocytes are important for maintaining cholesterol metabolism, glutamate uptake, and neurotransmission. Indeed, inflammatory processes and neurodegeneration contribute to the altered morphology, gene expression, and function of astrocytes. Astrocytes, in collaboration with numerous microRNAs, regulate brain cholesterol levels as well as glutamatergic and inflammatory signaling, all of which contribute to general brain homeostasis. Neural electrical activity, synaptic plasticity processes, learning, and memory are dependent on the astrocyte–neuron crosstalk. Here, we review the involvement of astrocytic microRNAs that potentially regulate cholesterol metabolism, glutamate uptake, and inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The interaction between astrocytic microRNAs and long non-coding RNA and transcription factors specific to astrocytes also contributes to the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, astrocytic microRNAs arise as a promising target, as AD conditions are a worldwide public health problem. This review examines novel therapeutic strategies to target astrocyte dysfunction in AD, such as lipid nanodiscs, engineered G protein-coupled receptors, extracellular vesicles, and nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Function of Astrocytes in Neurodegenerative Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop