Astrocytes could be as important as neurons when it comes to regulating sleep. Read More
Study reveals the important role astrocytes play in maintaining blood-brain barrier health. Read More
Axon regeneration and dramatic improvements in functional recovery occurred when lactate was applied to damaged neural tissue. Treatment with lactate also significantly improved locomotion and restored some walking capability in mouse models of SCI. Read More
Study identifies a specific type of immune cell that induces inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. Read More
During wakeful periods, the glymphatic system diverts cerebrospinal fluid to lymph nodes in the neck. The CSF may act as a "fluid clock" that helps initiate the body's infection-fighting capabilities during the day. Astrocytes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus may serve to control CSF through the central nervous system. Communication between astrocytes in different brain regions may optimize the glymphatic system's function as we sleep. Read More
Alterations in the excitation and inhibition balance is regulated in the developing brain by astrocytes via the ephrin-B1 protein. The loss of astrocytic ephrin-B1 alters the E/I balance by reducing inhibition, resulting in hyperactivity of neural circuits. The hyperactivity results in reduced sociability in mice. Read More
Astrocytes are important for uninterrupted slow wave sleep and brain rhythms that are essential for learning and memory, through mechanisms involving intracellular calcium signals. Read More
Exposing mice to THC, researchers noted persistent activation of mitochondrial cannabinoid receptors located within astrocytes resulted in a cascade of molecular processing that led to dysfunctional glucose metabolism. The ability of astrocytes to transform glucose into "food" for neurons was reduced. The reduction resulted in a compromise in neural function, with a harmful impact on behavior. Specifically, social interactions were reduced for 24 hours post cannabis exposure. Read More
Familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2) causes a malfunction of astrocytes in the cingulate cortex. Manipulating astrocytes in the cingulate cortex reversed the disfunction, preventing an increase in migraine-like symptoms in mice carrying the FHM2 defect. Read More
Researchers administered PTB antisense oligonucleotide treatment directly to the midbrain of mice. In the mouse models exposed to the treatment, a small subset of astrocytes converted to neurons, increasing the number of neurons by 30%. Three months after treatment, mice were completely free of Parkinson's disease symptoms and remained in remission for the rest of their lives. Read More
Some coronavirus patients exhibit clinical and neurochemical signs of brain injury associated with the viral infection. COVID-19 patients who required ventilation had increased plasma NfL levels. The higher NfL concentration levels were linked to the severity of infection. Read More
Astrocytes harbor HIV and spread the virus to CD4+ T cells that traffic the virus out of the brain and into other organs. HIV moves via this route, even when the virus is suppressed with cART. Read More
