Astrocyte activation and reactive gliosis-A new target in stroke?

Milos Pekny; Ulrika Wilhelmsson; Turgut Tatlisumak; Marcela Pekna

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2018.07.021

Astrocyte activation and reactive gliosis-A new target in stroke?

Neurosci Lett. 2019 Jan 10:689:45-55. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.07.021. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

Authors

Milos Pekny¹, Ulrika Wilhelmsson², Turgut Tatlisumak³, Marcela Pekna⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Box 440, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: milos.pekny@neuro.gu.se.
² Center for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Box 440, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.
³ Center for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Box 440, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Neurology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁴ Center for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Box 440, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 30025833
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.07.021

Abstract

Stroke is an acute insult to the central nervous system (CNS) that triggers a sequence of responses in the acute, subacute as well as later stages, with prominent involvement of astrocytes. Astrocyte activation and reactive gliosis in the acute stage of stroke limit the tissue damage and contribute to the restoration of homeostasis. Astrocytes also control many aspects of neural plasticity that is the basis for functional recovery. Here, we discuss the concept of intermediate filaments (nanofilaments) and the complement system as two handles on the astrocyte responses to injury that both present attractive opportunities for novel treatment strategies modulating astrocyte functions and reactive gliosis.

Keywords: Astrocytes; Brain ischemia; Brain repair; C3; C3a; GFAP; Intermediate filaments (Nanofilaments); Nestin; Neural plasticity; Perinatal asphyxia; Reactive gliosis; Stroke; The complement system; Vimentin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Astrocytes / metabolism
Astrocytes / pathology*
Gliosis / metabolism
Gliosis / pathology*
Humans
Stroke / pathology*
Stroke / therapy*