Table 1. Astrocyte contribution to CNS pathology*.
Astrocyte-mediated process | Molecules involved | Pathological effects | Disorder | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Glutamate homeostasis | EAAT1 (GLAST) EAAT2 (GLT1) |
Excitotoxicity | Epilepsy Trauma Stroke Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Huntington’s disease Alzheimer’s disease |
94-98 |
Calcium signalling | AMPARs** mGluRs |
Excitatory and inhibitory actions on neurons | Migraine Epilepsy |
99 and references therein |
K+ and Na+ homeostasis | Kir4.1 and other Kir channels Na+, K+-ATPase |
Spreading depression Neuronal hyperexcitability Edema |
Stroke Migraine Epilepsy Trauma Cytotoxic edema Autism |
100-103 |
Water homeostasis | Aquaporin-4 | Edema | Trauma Ischemic edema Stroke |
112,104,105 |
Cholesterol production | Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) |
Oxidative stress Excessive deposition of cholesterol |
Niemann-Pick disease | 106,107 |
Long-range signalling | Cx30 Cx43 |
Spread of death and apoptotic signals | Stroke Epilepsy |
70,108 |
Neuronal-glial signalling | GluR1-4 NR1,2,3 Purinergic P2 receptors (P2X1/7) |
Ca2+/Na+ overload Excitotoxicity |
Trauma Stroke Neurodegeneration |
75,109,110 |
Reactive astrocytosis and release of toxic substances |
Nitric oxide Reactive oxigen species/SOD Inflammatory and apoptotic mediators |
Neurotoxicity | Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
95,97,111 |
Infectious and tumoral diseases are not included in this table.
α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid subtype glutamate receptors (AMPARs)