The role of astroglia on the survival of dopamine neurons.
Glial cells play a key role in the function of dopamine (DA) neurons and regulate their differentiation, morphology, physiological and pharmacological properties, survival, and resistance to different models of DA lesion. Several studies suggest that glial cells may be important in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of the nigrostriatal DA system. In this disease the role of glia could be due to the excessive production of toxic products such as nitric oxide (NO) or cytokines characteristic of inflammatory process, or related to a defective release of neuroprotective agents, such as small antioxidants with free radical scavenging properties or peptidic neurotrophic factors.
Dpto Neurobiología-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ctra de Colmenar, Madrid, Spain. maria.a.mena@hrc.es
María Angeles
MA
Mena
Sonsoles
S
de Bernardo
Maria José
MJ
Casarejos
Santiago
S
Canals
Eulalia
E
Rodríguez-Martín
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D004298:Dopamine