title: Neuron-glia signaling: Implications for astrocyte differentiation and synapse formation.
abstract: Glial cells are currently viewed as active partners of neurons in synapse formation. The close proximity of astrocytes to the synaptic cleft implicates that they strongly influence synapse function as well as suggests that these cells might be potential targets for neuronal-released molecules. In this review, we discuss the signaling pathways of astrocyte generation and the role of astrocyte-derived molecules in synapse formation in the central nervous system. Further, we discuss the role of the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) pathway in astrocyte generation and differentiation. We provide evidence that astrocytes surrounding synapses are target of neuronal activity and shed light into the role of astroglial cells into neurological disorders associated with glutamate neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stipursky
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romão
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tortelli
authors.forename: Vivaldo Moura
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Flávia Carvalho Alcantara
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D018698:Glutamic Acid