title: Regulation and dysregulation of astrocyte activation and implications in tumor formation.
abstract: Astrocytic activation is a cellular response to disturbances of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have demonstrated the remarkable changes in molecular signaling, morphology, and metabolism that occur during astrocyte activation. Based on these studies, it has become clear that the astrocyte activation process is regulated by a variety of signaling pathways, which result in metabolic support, wound healing and scar formation. While normal astrocyte activation pathways drive homeostasis and/or repair in the CNS, dysregulation of these pathways can lead to astrocyte abnormalities, including glioma formation with similar phenotypes as reactive astrocytes. We review the principle pathways responsible for astrocytic activation, as well as their potential contribution to tumor formation in the CNS.
authors: Surgical Neurology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 3D20, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-1414, USA, yangc2@ninds.nih.gov.
authors: Chunzhang
authors: C
authors: Yang
authors: Shervin
authors: S
authors: Rahimpour
authors: Albert C H
authors: AC
authors: Yu
authors: Russell R
authors: RR
authors: Lonser
authors: Zhengping
authors: Z
authors: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface