title: A role for astrocytes in motor neuron loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: A strong glial reaction typically surrounds the affected upper and lower motor neurons and degenerating descending tracts of ALS patients. Reactive astrocytes in ALS contain protein inclusions, express inflammatory makers such as the inducible forms of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2), display nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity and downregulate the glutamate transporter EAAT2. In this review, we discuss the evidence sustaining an active role for astrocytes in the induction and propagation of motor neuron loss in ALS. Available evidence supports the view that glial activation could be initiated by proinflammatory mediators secreted by motor neurons in response to injury, axotomy or muscular pathology. In turn, reactive astrocytes produce nitric oxide and peroxynitrite, which cause mitochondrial damage in cultured neurons and trigger apoptosis in motor neurons. Astrocytes may also contribute to the excitotoxic damage of motor neurons by decreasing glutamate transport or actively releasing the excitotoxic amino acid. In addition, reactive astrocytes secrete pro-apoptotic mediators, such as nerve growth factor (NGF) or Fas-ligand, a mechanism that may serve to eliminate vulnerable motor neurons. The comprehensive understanding of the interactions between motor neurons and glia in ALS may lead to a more accurate theory of the pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318-CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay. lbarb@iibce.edu.uy
authors.forename: Luis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Barbeito
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pehar
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cassina
authors.forename: Marcelo R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peluffo
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viera
authors.forename: Alvaro G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Estévez
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Beckman
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D005911:Gliosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018698:Glutamic Acid