Astrocyte intermediate filaments in CNS pathologies and regeneration.

• Astroglial cells are the most abundant cells in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), yet our knowledge about their function in health and disease has been limited. This review focuses on the recent work addressing the function of intermediate filaments in astroglial cells under severe mechanical or osmotic stress, in hypoxia, and in brain and spinal cord injury. Recent data show that when astrocyte intermediate filaments are genetically ablated in mice, reactive gliosis is attenuated and the course of several CNS pathologies is altered, while the signs of CNS regeneration become more prominent. GFAP is the principal astrocyte intermediate filament protein and dominant mutations in the GFAP gene have been shown to lead to Alexander disease, a fatal neurodegenerative condition in humans.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Alexander Disease

genetics

Astrocytes

metabolism

Brain Injuries

physiopathology

Cell Movement

physiology

Central Nervous System Diseases

metabolism

physiopathology

Cytoskeleton

metabolism

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein

genetics

Humans

Intermediate Filaments

metabolism

Nerve Regeneration

physiology

Osmosis

physiology

Retinal Vessels

pathology

Spinal Cord Injuries

physiopathology

Stress

Mechanical

Publication and Content Type

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