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van Asperen JV, Kotaich F, Caillol D, Bomont P. Neurofilaments: Novel findings and future challenges. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 87:102326. [PMID: 38401181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Neurofilaments (NFs) are abundant cytoskeletal proteins that emerge as a critical hub for cell signalling within neurons. As we start to uncover essential roles of NFs in regulating microtubule and organelle dynamics, nerve conduction and neurotransmission, novel discoveries are expected to arise in genetics, with NFs identified as causal genes for various neurodegenerative diseases. This review will discuss how the latest advances in fundamental and translational research illuminate our understanding of NF biology, particularly their assembly, organisation, transport and degradation. We will emphasise the notion that filaments are not one entity and that future challenges will be to apprehend their diverse composition and structural heterogeneity and to scrutinize how this regulates signalling, sustains neuronal physiology and drives pathophysiology in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessy V van Asperen
- ERC Team, NeuroMyoGene Insitute, INMG-PGNM, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR5261, University of Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Farah Kotaich
- ERC Team, NeuroMyoGene Insitute, INMG-PGNM, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR5261, University of Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Damien Caillol
- ERC Team, NeuroMyoGene Insitute, INMG-PGNM, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR5261, University of Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Pascale Bomont
- ERC Team, NeuroMyoGene Insitute, INMG-PGNM, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR5261, University of Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
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2
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de Reus AJEM, Basak O, Dykstra W, van Asperen JV, van Bodegraven EJ, Hol EM. GFAP-isoforms in the nervous system: Understanding the need for diversity. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 87:102340. [PMID: 38401182 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament (IF) protein expressed in specific types of glial cells in the nervous system. The expression of GFAP is highly regulated during brain development and in neurological diseases. The presence of distinct GFAP-isoforms in various cell types, developmental stages, and diseases indicates that GFAP (post-)transcriptional regulation has a role in glial cell physiology and pathology. GFAP-isoforms differ in sub-cellular localisation, IF-network assembly properties, and IF-dynamics which results in distinct molecular interactions and mechanical properties of the IF-network. Therefore, GFAP (post-)transcriptional regulation is likely a mechanism by which radial glia, astrocytes, and glioma cells can modulate cellular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J E M de Reus
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Onur Basak
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Werner Dykstra
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Institut NeuroMyoGène (INMG), Unité Physiopathologie et Génétique du Neurone et du Muscle, Unversité Claude Bernard Lyon 1 CNRS UMR 5261, INSERM U1315, Lyon, France
| | - Emma J van Bodegraven
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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3
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van Asperen JV, van Bodegraven EJ, Robe PA, Hol EM. Determining glioma cell invasion and proliferation in ex vivo organotypic mouse brain slices using whole-mount immunostaining and tissue clearing. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101703. [PMID: 36136755 PMCID: PMC9508478 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The ex vivo organotypic brain slice invasion model is commonly used to study the growth dynamics of gliomas, primary brain tumors that are known for their invasive behavior. Here, we describe a protocol where the ex vivo organotypic mouse brain slice invasion model is combined with whole-mount immunostaining, tissue clearing, and 3D reconstruction, to visualize and quantify the invasion of glioma cells. In addition, we describe an approach to determine the proliferation rate of the cells within this model. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Uceda-Castro et al. (2022).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessy V. van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Corresponding author
| | - Emma J. van Bodegraven
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A.J.T. Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Corresponding author
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4
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Uceda-Castro R, van Asperen JV, Vennin C, Sluijs JA, van Bodegraven EJ, Margarido AS, Robe PAJ, van Rheenen J, Hol EM. GFAP splice variants fine-tune glioma cell invasion and tumour dynamics by modulating migration persistence. Sci Rep 2022; 12:424. [PMID: 35013418 PMCID: PMC8748899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04127-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma is the most common form of malignant primary brain tumours in adults. Their highly invasive nature makes the disease incurable to date, emphasizing the importance of better understanding the mechanisms driving glioma invasion. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein that is characteristic for astrocyte- and neural stem cell-derived gliomas. Glioma malignancy is associated with changes in GFAP alternative splicing, as the canonical isoform GFAPα is downregulated in higher-grade tumours, leading to increased dominance of the GFAPδ isoform in the network. In this study, we used intravital imaging and an ex vivo brain slice invasion model. We show that the GFAPδ and GFAPα isoforms differentially regulate the tumour dynamics of glioma cells. Depletion of either isoform increases the migratory capacity of glioma cells. Remarkably, GFAPδ-depleted cells migrate randomly through the brain tissue, whereas GFAPα-depleted cells show a directionally persistent invasion into the brain parenchyma. This study shows that distinct compositions of the GFAPnetwork lead to specific migratory dynamics and behaviours of gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Uceda-Castro
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Claire Vennin
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline A Sluijs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emma J van Bodegraven
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Andreia S Margarido
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A J Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacco van Rheenen
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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van Asperen JV, Robe PA, Hol EM. GFAP Alternative Splicing and the Relevance for Disease – A Focus on Diffuse Gliomas. ASN Neuro 2022; 14:17590914221102065. [PMID: 35673702 PMCID: PMC9185002 DOI: 10.1177/17590914221102065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein that is
characteristic for astrocytes and neural stem cells, and their malignant analogues in
glioma. Since the discovery of the protein 50 years ago, multiple alternative splice
variants of the GFAP gene have been discovered, leading to different GFAP isoforms. In
this review, we will describe GFAP isoform expression from gene to protein to network,
taking the canonical isoforms GFAPα and the main alternative variant GFAPδ as the starting
point. We will discuss the relevance of studying GFAP and its isoforms in disease, with a
specific focus on diffuse gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessy V. van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A.J.T. Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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van Bodegraven EJ, van Asperen JV, Sluijs JA, van Deursen CBJ, van Strien ME, Stassen OMJA, Robe PAJ, Hol EM. GFAP alternative splicing regulates glioma cell-ECM interaction in a DUSP4-dependent manner. FASEB J 2019; 33:12941-12959. [PMID: 31480854 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201900916r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. Their highly invasive character and the heterogeneity of active oncogenic pathways within single tumors complicate the development of curative therapies and cause poor patient prognosis. Glioma cells express the intermediate filament protein glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and the level of its alternative splice variant GFAP-δ, relative to its canonical splice variant GFAP-α, is higher in grade IV compared with lower-grade and lower malignant glioma. In this study we show that a high GFAP-δ/α ratio induces the expression of the dual-specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) in focal adhesions. By focusing on pathways up- and downstream of DUSP4 that are involved in the cell-extracellular matrix interaction, we show that a high GFAP-δ/α ratio equips glioma cells to better invade the brain. This study supports the hypothesis that glioma cells with a high GFAP-δ/α ratio are highly invasive and more malignant cells, thus making GFAP alternative splicing a potential therapeutic target.-Van Bodegraven, E. J., van Asperen, J. V., Sluijs, J. A., van Deursen, C. B. J., van Strien, M. E., Stassen, O. M. J. A., Robe, P. A. J., Hol, E. M. GFAP alternative splicing regulates glioma cell-ECM interaction in a DUSP4-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J van Bodegraven
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline A Sluijs
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Coen B J van Deursen
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam E van Strien
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar M J A Stassen
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Pierre A J Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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van Bodegraven EJ, van Asperen JV, Robe PAJ, Hol EM. Importance of GFAP isoform-specific analyses in astrocytoma. Glia 2019; 67:1417-1433. [PMID: 30667110 PMCID: PMC6617972 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gliomas are a heterogenous group of malignant primary brain tumors that arise from glia cells or their progenitors and rely on accurate diagnosis for prognosis and treatment strategies. Although recent developments in the molecular biology of glioma have improved diagnosis, classical histological methods and biomarkers are still being used. The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a classical marker of astrocytoma, both in clinical and experimental settings. GFAP is used to determine glial differentiation, which is associated with a less malignant tumor. However, since GFAP is not only expressed by mature astrocytes but also by radial glia during development and neural stem cells in the adult brain, we hypothesized that GFAP expression in astrocytoma might not be a direct indication of glial differentiation and a less malignant phenotype. Therefore, we here review all existing literature from 1972 up to 2018 on GFAP expression in astrocytoma patient material to revisit GFAP as a marker of lower grade, more differentiated astrocytoma. We conclude that GFAP is heterogeneously expressed in astrocytoma, which most likely masks a consistent correlation of GFAP expression to astrocytoma malignancy grade. The GFAP positive cell population contains cells with differences in morphology, function, and differentiation state showing that GFAP is not merely a marker of less malignant and more differentiated astrocytoma. We suggest that discriminating between the GFAP isoforms GFAPδ and GFAPα will improve the accuracy of assessing the differentiation state of astrocytoma in clinical and experimental settings and will benefit glioma classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J van Bodegraven
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A J Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105, BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Krencik R, Seo K, van Asperen JV, Basu N, Cvetkovic C, Barlas S, Chen R, Ludwig C, Wang C, Ward ME, Gan L, Horner PJ, Rowitch DH, Ullian EM. Systematic Three-Dimensional Coculture Rapidly Recapitulates Interactions between Human Neurons and Astrocytes. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 9:1745-1753. [PMID: 29198827 PMCID: PMC5785708 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human astrocytes network with neurons in dynamic ways that are still poorly defined. Our ability to model this relationship is hampered by the lack of relevant and convenient tools to recapitulate this complex interaction. To address this barrier, we have devised efficient coculture systems utilizing 3D organoid-like spheres, termed asteroids, containing pre-differentiated human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived astrocytes (hAstros) combined with neurons generated from hPSC-derived neural stem cells (hNeurons) or directly induced via Neurogenin 2 overexpression (iNeurons). Our systematic methods rapidly produce structurally complex hAstros and synapses in high-density coculture with iNeurons in precise numbers, allowing for improved studies of neural circuit function, disease modeling, and drug screening. We conclude that these bioengineered neural circuit model systems are reliable and scalable tools to accurately study aspects of human astrocyte-neuron functional properties while being easily accessible for cell-type-specific manipulations and observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Krencik
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Kyounghee Seo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Nupur Basu
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Caroline Cvetkovic
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Saba Barlas
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert Chen
- Gladstone Institutes of Neurological Disease, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Connor Ludwig
- Gladstone Institutes of Neurological Disease, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Chao Wang
- Gladstone Institutes of Neurological Disease, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michael E Ward
- Gladstone Institutes of Neurological Disease, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Gladstone Institutes of Neurological Disease, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Philip J Horner
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David H Rowitch
- Department of Pediatrics, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regeneration Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Erik M Ullian
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Venø MT, Venø ST, Rehberg K, van Asperen JV, Clausen BH, Holm IE, Pasterkamp RJ, Finsen B, Kjems J. Cortical Morphogenesis during Embryonic Development Is Regulated by miR-34c and miR-204. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:31. [PMID: 28232790 PMCID: PMC5299138 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The porcine brain closely resembles the human brain in aspects such as development and morphology. Temporal miRNA profiling in the developing embryonic porcine cortex revealed a distinct set of miRNAs, including miR-34c and miR-204, which exhibited a highly specific expression profile across the time of cortical folding. These miRNAs were found to target Doublecortin (DCX), known to be involved in neuron migration during cortical folding of gyrencephalic brains. In vivo modulation of miRNA expression in mouse embryos confirmed that miR-34c and miR-204 can control neuronal migration and cortical morphogenesis, presumably by posttranscriptional regulation of DCX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morten T Venø
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Susanne T Venø
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kati Rehberg
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Bettina H Clausen
- Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark Odense, Denmark
| | - Ida E Holm
- Laboratory for Experimental Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Randers Hospital Randers, Denmark
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Bente Finsen
- Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark Odense, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Kjems
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University Aarhus, Denmark
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10
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Krencik R, van Asperen JV, Ullian EM. Human astrocytes are distinct contributors to the complexity of synaptic function. Brain Res Bull 2016; 129:66-73. [PMID: 27570101 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 08/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Cellular components of synaptic circuits have been adjusted for increased human brain size, neural cell density, energy consumption and developmental duration. How does the human brain make these accommodations? There is evidence that astrocytes are one of the most divergent neural cell types in primate brain evolution and it is now becoming clear that they have critical roles in controlling synaptic development, function and plasticity. Yet, we still do not know how the precise developmental appearance of these cells and subsequent astrocyte-derived signals modulate diverse neuronal circuit subtypes. Here, we discuss what is currently known about the influence of glial factors on synaptic maturation and focus on unique features of human astrocytes including their potential roles in regenerative and translational medicine. Human astrocyte distinctiveness may be a major contributor to high level neuronal processing of the human brain and act in novel ways during various neuropathies ranging from autism spectrum disorders, viral infection, injury and neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Krencik
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Neuroscience Program, University of California San Francisco, United States.
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Neuroscience Program, University of California San Francisco, United States
| | - Erik M Ullian
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Neuroscience Program, University of California San Francisco, United States
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