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Astrocyte, the star avatar: redefined

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Abstract

Until recently, the neuroscience community held the belief that glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes functioned solely as “support” cells of the brain. In this role, glial cells simply provide physical support and housekeeping functions for the more important cells of the brain, the neurons. However, this view has changed radically in recent years with the discovery of previously unrecognized and surprising functions for this underappreciated cell type. In the past decade or so, emerging evidence has provided new insights into novel glial cell activities such as control of synapse formation and function, communication, cerebrovascular tone regulation, immune regulation and adult neurogenesis. Such advances in knowledge have effectively elevated the role of the astrocyte to one that is more important than previously realized. This review summarizes the past and present knowledge of glial cell functions that has evolved over the years, and has resulted in a new appreciation of astrocytes and their value in studying the neurobiology of human brain cells and their functions. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the role of glial cells in physiology, pathophysiology and, most importantly, in adult neurogenesis and “stemness”, with special emphasis on astrocytes.

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Abbreviations

ACT:

α-antichymotrypsin

AD:

Alzheimer disease

ALS:

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ADAMTS:

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs

AMPA:

alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid

APC:

antigen-presenting cell

APP:

amyloid precursor protein

ATP:

adenosine triphosphate

BBB:

blood-brain barrier

BchE:

butyrylcholinesterase

BDNF:

brain derived neurotrophic factor

BLBP:

basic lipid-binding protein

CNS:

central nervous system

CNTF:

ciliary neurotrophic factor

COX-2:

cyclooxygenase-2

CXCL:

chemokine CXC ligand

EDGF:

epidermal-derived growth factor

FGF:

fibroblast-derived growth factor

FGFR:

fibroblast growth factor receptor

GABA:

gamma amino butyric acid, GDNF, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor

GFAP:

glial fibrillary acidic protein

IGFBP6:

insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-6

IL:

interleukin

iNOS:

inducible nitric oxide synthase

LIF:

leukaemia inhibitory factor

LTP:

long-term potentiation

MBP:

myelin basic protein

MCP:

monocyte chemoattractant protein

MHC:

major histocompatibility complex

MOG:

myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein

MS:

multiple sclerosis

NMDAR:

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor

NGF:

nerve growth factor

NSC:

neural stem cell

PLP:

proteolipid protein

RMS:

rostral migratory stream

SDF:

stromal derived factor

SIC:

small inward current

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

SVZ:

subventricular zone

TH:

tyrosine hydroxylase

TNF:

tumour necrosis factor

VM:

ventral mesencephalic

VZ:

ventricular zone

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  1. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, National Brain Research Centre, N H-8, Manesar, 122 050, India

    Pankaj Seth & Nitin Koul

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Seth, P., Koul, N. Astrocyte, the star avatar: redefined. J Biosci 33, 405–421 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-008-0060-5

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