title: Eph receptors and ephrins in neuron-astrocyte communication at synapses.
abstract: Neuron-glia communication is essential for regulating the properties of synaptic connections in the brain. Astrocytes, in particular, play a critical and complex role in synapse development, maintenance, and plasticity. Likewise, neurons reciprocally influence astrocyte physiology. However, the molecular signaling events that enable astrocytes and neurons to effectively communicate with each other are only partially defined. Recent findings have revealed that Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and ephrins play an important role in contact-dependent neuron-glia communication at synapses. Upon binding, these two families of cell surface-associated proteins trigger bidirectional signaling events that regulate the structural and physiological properties of both neurons and astrocytes. This review will focus on the emerging role of Eph receptors and ephrins in neuron-astrocyte interaction at synapses and discuss implications for synaptic plasticity, behavior, and disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada. keith.murai@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Keith K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Murai
authors.forename: Elena B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Pasquale
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036384:Ephrin-A3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D036342:Ephrins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D036384:Ephrin-A3; D036342:Ephrins; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family