Emerging Roles for Aberrant Astrocytic Calcium Signals in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Astrocytes display a plethora of spontaneous Ca²⁺ signals that modulate vital functions of the central nervous system (CNS). This suggests that astrocytic Ca²⁺ signals also contribute to pathological processes in the CNS. In this context, the molecular mechanisms by which aberrant astrocytic Ca²⁺ signals trigger dopaminergic neuron loss during Parkinson's disease (PD) are only beginning to emerge. Here, we provide an evidence-based perspective on potential mechanisms by which aberrant astrocytic Ca²⁺ signals can trigger dysfunction in three distinct compartments of the brain, viz., neurons, microglia, and the blood brain barrier, thereby leading to PD. We envision that the coming decades will unravel novel mechanisms by which aberrant astrocytic Ca²⁺ signals contribute to PD and other neurodegenerative processes in the CNS.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; astrocytes; calcium; mitochondria; neurodegenenerative diseases.