Astrocytes in Parkinson's disease: from preclinical assays to in vivo imaging and therapeutic probes

Neurobiol Aging. 2020 Nov:95:264-270. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.07.012. Epub 2020 Jul 21.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasingly thought to be associated with glial pathology. Recently, research in neurodegenerative disorders has applied a greater focus to better understanding the role of astrocytes in the disease pathophysiology. In this article, we review results from the latest preclinical and clinical work, including functional imaging studies on astrocytes in PD and highlight key molecules that may prove valuable as biomarkers. We discuss how astrocytes may contribute to the initiation and progression of PD. We additionally present trials of investigational medicinal products and the current background for the design of future clinical trials.

Keywords: Astrocytes; Astrogliosis; Biomarkers; Parkinson's disease.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Astrocytes / metabolism*
  • Astrocytes / pathology
  • Astrocytes / physiology*
  • Cholinergic Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Disease Progression
  • Gliosis
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glutathione / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Nerve Growth Factors / therapeutic use
  • Nicotine / therapeutic use
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / etiology*
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology*
  • Purinergic Antagonists / metabolism
  • Purinergic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Cholinergic Agonists
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Purinergic Antagonists
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Nicotine
  • Glutathione