title: Astrocytes and Microglia as Non-cell Autonomous Players in the Pathogenesis of ALS.
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that leads to a progressive muscle wasting and paralysis. The pathological phenotypes are featured by severe motor neuron death and glial activation in the lumbar spinal cord. Proposed ALS pathogenic mechanisms include glutamate cytotoxicity, inflammatory pathway, oxidative stress, and protein aggregation. However, the exact mechanisms of ALS pathogenesis are not fully understood yet. Recently, a growing body of evidence provides a novel insight on the importance of glial cells in relation to the motor neuronal damage via the non-cell autonomous pathway. Accordingly, the aim of the current paper is to overview the role of astrocytes and microglia in the pathogenesis of ALS and to better understand the disease mechanism of ALS.
authors: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors: Junghee
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Center for Neuromedicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 04535, Korea.
authors: Seung Jae
authors: SJ
authors: Hyeon
authors: Center for Neuromedicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 04535, Korea.
authors: Hyeonjoo
authors: H
authors: Im
authors: Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors: Hyun
authors: H
authors: Ryu
authors: Center for Neuromedicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 04535, Korea.
authors: Yunha
authors: Y
authors: Kim
authors: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.; Center for Neuromedicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 04535, Korea.
authors: Hoon
authors: H
authors: Ryu
keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; astrocyte; microglia; motor neuron; non-cell autonomous toxicity