Journal ArticleDOI
Astrocytes: New Targets for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
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TLDR
The most recent and promising astrocyte-based therapeutic approaches - from fundamental discoveries to clinical trials - that intent to sustain neuronal health and function in neurodegenerative disorders are presented.Abstract:
The causes of neurodegenerative disorders are multiple, and for most of them a mechanistic understanding
is still lacking. However, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) and Parkinson disease (PD) all share common features that include elevated oxidative stress levels and
impaired energy metabolism in the nervous system. Most of the current treatments are only successful at alleviating
some of the pathological symptoms, but fail at preventing neurodegeneration. There is therefore an urgent need for
innovative and more efficient treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.
We review here the central role played by astrocytes in the regulation of brain homeostasis, protection and function by supporting neuronal
health and activity. In particular, astrocytes are key partners of neuronal metabolism, notably through activation of the astrocyteneuron
lactate shuttle (ANLS). They also control the levels of extracellular glutamate, production of antioxidant molecules, disposal of
neuronal waste products, storage of energy in the form of glycogen, and expression of neurotrophic factors. These mechanisms, which
are key for brain activity and cognition, also largely contribute to neuronal degeneration in pathological situations.
Thus, as astrocytes appear to play a key role in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders, a growing interest has arisen for astrocytemediated
pathways as targets for drugs that aim at treating the root causes of the pathology. We present here the most recent and promising
astrocyte-based therapeutic approaches - from fundamental discoveries to clinical trials - that intent to sustain neuronal health and
function in neurodegenerative disorders.read more
Citations
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Involvement of Astrocytes in Alzheimer's Disease from a Neuroinflammatory and Oxidative Stress Perspective.
Rodrigo E. González-Reyes,Mauricio O. Nava-Mesa,Karina Vargas-Sánchez,Daniel Ariza-Salamanca,Laura Mora-Muñoz +4 more
TL;DR: The Aβ/NF-κB interaction in astrocytes may play a central role in these inflammatory and OS changes present in AD, and therapeutic measures highlighting the importance of astroCytes in AD pathology are discussed.
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Development of Multifunctional Molecules as Potential Therapeutic Candidates for Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in the Last Decade
Masha G. Savelieff,Geewoo Nam,Geewoo Nam,Juhye Kang,Juhye Kang,Hyuck Jin Lee,Misun Lee,Misun Lee,Mi Hee Lim +8 more
TL;DR: Possible therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are outlined and molecules, previously designed or discovered as potential drug candidates for these disorders with emphasis on multifunctionality are discussed.
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Selective autophagy as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders.
TL;DR: A change of strategy in the modulation of autophagy might hold promise for future disease-modifying therapies for patients with neurodegenerative disorders.
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A Review on Central Nervous System Effects of Gastrodin
Yuan Liu,Jialiang Gao,Min Peng,Hongyan Meng,Hongbo Ma,Pingping Cai,Yuan Xu,Qiong Zhao,Guomin Si +8 more
TL;DR: The central nervous system (CNS) effects of gastrodin in preclinical models of CNS disorders including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease, affective disorders, cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, cognitive impairment as well as the underlying mechanisms involved and, where possible, clinical data that support the pharmacological activities are reviewed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Astrocytes: Role and Functions in Brain Pathologies
TL;DR: The current knowledge pertaining to astrocytes’ role in brain pathologies is described and the possibilities to target them as approach toward pharmacological therapies for neuro-pathologies are discussed.
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