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What is the significance of synaptic signaling in cancer progression? 


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Synaptic signaling plays a crucial role in cancer progression by influencing tumor growth and metastasis. Neuronal activity regulates cancer development through mechanisms like neuron-to-tumor synapses, where malignant cells integrate into neural circuitry, promoting proliferation and invasion. In gliomas, synaptic proteins like neuroligin-3 and AMPA receptors drive tumor progression by enhancing synaptic plasticity and strength. Tumors exhibit higher electrical activity, with intratumoral nerves forming functional connections and promoting cancer progression through neuropeptides like Substance P. Understanding how tumors co-opt synaptic signaling pathways provides insights into novel therapeutic strategies targeting these mechanisms to impede cancer growth and spread. This highlights the importance of considering the nervous system's role in cancer biology for developing effective treatment approaches.

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Synaptic signaling within tumors, involving neuropeptides like Substance P, promotes cancer progression by enhancing cellular proliferation and migration through the engagement of the NK1R receptor.
Synaptic signaling plays a crucial role in cancer progression by involving synaptic proteins like neuroligin-3, AMPAR, NMDAR, and DLGAP1, influencing tumor cell proliferation and progression in the microenvironment.
Journal ArticleDOI
Michael B. Keough, Michelle Monje 
5 Citations
Synaptic signaling in cancer plays a crucial role by modulating neural structure and function to enhance growth-promoting signals in the tumor microenvironment, contributing to cancer progression.
Synaptic signaling influences cancer growth by integrating malignant cells into neural circuits, promoting proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as seen in small cell lung cancer brain metastases.
Synaptic signaling, particularly through BDNF-TrkB pathway, drives malignant synaptic plasticity in gliomas, promoting tumor progression by enhancing synaptic strength and regulating neuron-to-glioma synapse numbers.

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Have synaptic biomarkers been investigated in stroke?5 answersSynaptic biomarkers have not been specifically investigated in the context of stroke in the abstracts provided. However, the abstracts mention the investigation of blood neurofilament light chain proteins (NFL) as a biomarker of neuronal damage, the advancement in understanding the biologic mechanisms involved in recovery and repair after stroke, the use of biochemical markers in stroke diagnosis and rehabilitation, the derivation of eloquent indices from diffusion MRI for stroke stratification, and the search for biomarkers associated with post-stroke depression.
What are the newest research results of synapsids?5 answersThe abstracts provided do not contain any information about synapsids or their newest research results.
How does cocaine affect synaptic plasticity?5 answersCocaine affects synaptic plasticity by modulating calcium signals in astrocytes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Astrocyte calcium signals in the NAc are necessary and sufficient for the acquisition of cocaine-seeking behavior. Cocaine exposure generates new "silent synapses" in the NAc, which lack stably integrated AMPA receptors and are non-transmitting at resting potentials. The function of α2δ1, the receptor for synaptogenic astrocyte-secreted proteins called thrombospondins, is essential for the generation of silent synapses in the NAc following cocaine exposure. Cocaine self-administration decreases spontaneous astrocytic calcium transients and alters neuronal sensitivity to astrocyte-derived glutamate in the NAc. Inputs from the ventral hippocampus onto D1+ ventral tegmental area (VTA) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) are initially biased, but repeated cocaine exposure eliminates this bias and strengthens inputs from the basolateral amygdala onto D1+ ventral pallidum (VP) MSNs.
What is the role of synapses in the nervous system?5 answersSynapses play a crucial role in the nervous system by facilitating the transmission of information between neurons. They are specialized points of contact between neurons where communication occurs. Synapses are responsible for regulating the physiological function of the body by allowing neurons to send signals to one another. They are highly dynamic structures that exhibit extensive plasticity, which is shaped by neural activity and regulated by trans-synaptic cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs). CAMs, such as neurexins (Nrxs) and neuroligins (Nlgs), directly regulate the assembly of presynaptic and postsynaptic molecules, including synaptic vesicles, active zone proteins, and receptors. The development and functioning of synapses are vital for normal nervous system function, and dysregulation of synapses can contribute to various neurological disorders. Understanding the structure and function of synapses is essential for developing therapeutic strategies for managing pathological conditions related to synaptic dysfunction.

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