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Reactive Astrocytes as Drug Target in Alzheimer’s Disease
Joint Authors
Assefa, Brhane Teklebrhan
Gebre, Abadi Kahsu
Altaye, Birhanetensay Masresha
Source
Issue
Vol. 2018, Issue 2018 (31 Dec. 2018), pp.1-10, 10 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2018-05-14
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
10
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by deposition of extracellular amyloid-β, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, and loss of cortical neurons.
However, the mechanism underlying neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains to be explored.
Many of the researches on AD have been primarily focused on neuronal changes.
Current research, however, broadens to give emphasis on the importance of nonneuronal cells, such as astrocytes.
Astrocytes play fundamental roles in several cerebral functions and their dysfunctions promote neurodegeneration and, eventually, retraction of neuronal synapses, which leads to cognitive deficits found in AD.
Astrocytes become reactive as a result of deposition of Aβ, which in turn have detrimental consequences, including decreased glutamate uptake due to reduced expression of uptake transporters, altered energy metabolism, altered ion homeostasis (K+ and Ca+), increased tonic inhibition, and increased release of cytokines and inflammatory mediators.
In this review, recent insights on the involvement of, tonic inhibition, astrocytic glutamate transporters and aquaporin in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease are provided.
Compounds which increase expression of GLT1 have showed efficacy for AD in preclinical studies.
Tonic inhibition mediated by GABA could also be a promising target and drugs that block the GABA synthesizing enzyme, MAO-B, have shown efficacy.
However, there are contradictory evidences on the role of AQP4 in AD.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Assefa, Brhane Teklebrhan& Gebre, Abadi Kahsu& Altaye, Birhanetensay Masresha. 2018. Reactive Astrocytes as Drug Target in Alzheimer’s Disease. BioMed Research International،Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1126420
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Assefa, Brhane Teklebrhan…[et al.]. Reactive Astrocytes as Drug Target in Alzheimer’s Disease. BioMed Research International No. 2018 (2018), pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1126420
American Medical Association (AMA)
Assefa, Brhane Teklebrhan& Gebre, Abadi Kahsu& Altaye, Birhanetensay Masresha. Reactive Astrocytes as Drug Target in Alzheimer’s Disease. BioMed Research International. 2018. Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1126420
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1126420