scholarly journals Critical Involvement of Glial Cells in Manganese Neurotoxicity

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Jazmín Soto-Verdugo ◽  
Arturo Ortega

Over the years, most of the research concerning manganese exposure was restricted to the toxicity of neuronal cells. Manganese is an essential trace element that in high doses exerts neurotoxic effects. However, in the last two decades, efforts have shifted toward a more comprehensive approach that takes into account the involvement of glial cells in the development of neurotoxicity as a brain insult. Glial cells provide structural, trophic, and metabolic support to neurons. Nevertheless, these cells play an active role in adult neurogenesis, regulation of synaptogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Disturbances in glial cell function can lead to neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights the pivotal role that glial cells have in manganese-induced neurotoxicity as well as the most sounding mechanisms involved in the development of this phenomenon.

2021 ◽  
Vol 320 (1) ◽  
pp. C1-C14
Author(s):  
Angelo Tedoldi ◽  
Liam Argent ◽  
Johanna M. Montgomery

One of the major roles of the intracardiac nervous system (ICNS) is to act as the final site of signal integration for efferent information destined for the myocardium to enable local control of heart rate and rhythm. Multiple subtypes of neurons exist in the ICNS where they are organized into clusters termed ganglionated plexi (GP). The majority of cells in the ICNS are actually glial cells; however, despite this, ICNS glial cells have received little attention to date. In the central nervous system, where glial cell function has been widely studied, glia are no longer viewed simply as supportive cells but rather have been shown to play an active role in modulating neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. Pioneering studies have demonstrated that in addition to glia within the brain stem, glial cells within multiple autonomic ganglia in the peripheral nervous system, including the ICNS, can also act to modulate cardiovascular function. Clinically, patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter ablation show high plasma levels of S100B, a protein produced by cardiac glial cells, correlated with decreased AF recurrence. Interestingly, S100B also alters GP neuron excitability and neurite outgrowth in the ICNS. These studies highlight the importance of understanding how glial cells can affect the heart by modulating GP neuron activity or synaptic inputs. Here, we review studies investigating glia both in the central and peripheral nervous systems to discuss the potential role of glia in controlling cardiac function in health and disease, paying particular attention to the glial cells of the ICNS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7887
Author(s):  
Carmen Nanclares ◽  
Andres Mateo Baraibar ◽  
Alfonso Araque ◽  
Paulo Kofuji

Recent studies implicate astrocytes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, their role in pathogenesis is poorly understood. Astrocytes have well-established functions in supportive functions such as extracellular ionic homeostasis, structural support, and neurovascular coupling. However, emerging research on astrocytic function in the healthy brain also indicates their role in regulating synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability via the release of neuroactive substances named gliotransmitters. Here, we review how this “active” role of astrocytes at synapses could contribute to synaptic and neuronal network dysfunction and cognitive impairment in AD.


2022 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Chen ◽  
Da Xu ◽  
Liu Fan ◽  
Zhi Fang ◽  
Xiufeng Wang ◽  
...  

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders characterized by recurrent seizures. The mechanism of epilepsy remains unclear and previous studies suggest that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play an important role in abnormal discharges, nerve conduction, neuron injury and inflammation, thereby they may participate in epileptogenesis. NMDARs belong to a family of ionotropic glutamate receptors that play essential roles in excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity in the mammalian CNS. Despite numerous studies focusing on the role of NMDAR in epilepsy, the relationship appeared to be elusive. In this article, we reviewed the regulation of NMDAR and possible mechanisms of NMDAR in epilepsy and in respect of onset, development, and treatment, trying to provide more evidence for future studies.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annamaria Aprile ◽  
Alessandro Gulino ◽  
Mariangela Storto ◽  
Isabella Villa ◽  
Stefano Beretta ◽  
...  

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are regulated by signals from the bone marrow (BM) niche that tune hematopoiesis at steady state and in hematologic disorders. To understand HSC-niche interactions in altered nonmalignant homeostasis, we selected β-thalassemia, a hemoglobin disorder, as a paradigm. In this severe congenital anemia, alterations secondary to the primary hemoglobin defect have a potential impact on HSC-niche cross talk. We report that HSCs in thalassemic mice (th3) have an impaired function, caused by the interaction with an altered BM niche. The HSC self-renewal defect is rescued after cell transplantation into a normal microenvironment, thus proving the active role of the BM stroma. Consistent with the common finding of osteoporosis in patients, we found reduced bone deposition with decreased levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is a key regulator of bone metabolism but also of HSC activity. In vivo activation of PTH signaling through the reestablished Jagged1 and osteopontin levels correlated with the rescue of the functional pool of th3 HSCs by correcting HSC-niche cross talk. Reduced HSC quiescence was confirmed in thalassemic patients, along with altered features of the BM stromal niche. Our findings reveal a defect in HSCs in β-thalassemia induced by an altered BM microenvironment and provide novel and relevant insight for improving transplantation and gene therapy approaches.


Author(s):  
Shilpa Borehalli Mayegowda ◽  
Christofer Thomas

Abstract Neurons have been considered the major functional entities of the nervous system that are responsible for most of the functions even though glial cells largely outnumber them. However, recent reports have proved that glial cells do not function just like glue in the nervous system but also substantially affect neuronal function and activities, and are significantly involved in the underlying pathobiology of various psychiatric disorders. Dysfunctional astrocytes and degeneration of glial cells are postulated to be critical factors contributing to the aggravation of depressive-like symptoms in humans, which was proved using animal models. Alteration in glial cell function predominantly targets three main brain regions – the prefrontal cortex, limbic areas including the hippocampus, and the amygdala, which have been extensively studied by various researchers across the globe. These studies have postulated that failure in adopting to the changing neurophysiology due to stress will lead to regressive plasticity in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, but to progressive plasticity in the amygdala. In this present review, an effort has been made to understand the different alterations in chronic stress models in correlation with clinical conditions, providing evidence on the defective maintenance of glial function and its potential role in the precipitation of neuropsychiatric disorders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1365-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Escalante ◽  
Jazmín Soto-Verdugo ◽  
Luisa C. Hernández-Kelly ◽  
Dinorah Hernández-Melchor ◽  
Esther López-Bayghen ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 200-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoomeh Nazifi ◽  
Manoochehr Ashrafpoor ◽  
Shahrbanoo Oryan ◽  
Delaram Eslimi Esfahani ◽  
Ali Akbar Moghadamnia

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Koreth ◽  
Jerome Ritz ◽  
George C Tsokos ◽  
Alberto Pugliese ◽  
Thomas R Malek ◽  
...  

CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) act to maintain peripheral immune tolerance. Decreased numbers or defective function of Tregs has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) at high doses is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an immune stimulant to induce anti-tumor cytotoxicity. However, at physiologic doses, IL-2 is necessary for the expansion and function of Tregs. Treatment with low-dose IL-2 can selectively enhance Treg function while avoiding the activation of effector T cells and ameliorate immune inflammation. Administration of low doses of IL-2 to patients suffering from chronic graft versus host disease (cGvHD) or chronic hepatitis C-mediated vasculitis resulted in significant clinical benefit, which was linked to improved Treg cell function. Preclinical studies suggest that low-dose IL-2 may offer benefit in other autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus and type 1 diabetes. Ongoing preclinical and clinical studies indicate a wider potential role for low-dose IL-2 based Treg therapeutics in human autoimmune diseases.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Wang ◽  
Michael F. Jackson ◽  
Yu-Feng Xie

Synaptic plasticity refers to the ability of neurons to strengthen or weaken synaptic efficacy in response to activity and is the basis for learning and memory. Glial cells communicate with neurons and in this way contribute in part to plasticity in the CNS and to the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease in which impaired synaptic plasticity is causally implicated. The transient receptor potential melastatin member 2 (TRPM2) channel is a nonselective Ca2+-permeable channel expressed in both glial cells (microglia and astrocytes) and neurons. Recent studies indicated that TRPM2 regulates synaptic plasticity as well as the activation of glial cells. TRPM2 also modulates oxidative stress and inflammation through interaction with glial cells. As both oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated in AD pathology, this suggests a possible contribution of TRPM2 to disease processes. Through modulating the homeostasis of glutathione, TRPM2 is involved in the process of aging which is a risk factor of AD. These results potentially point TRPM2 channel to be involved in AD through glial cells. This review summarizes recent advances in studying the contribution of TRPM2 in health and in AD pathology, with a focus on contributions via glia cells.


2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katayun Cohen-Kashi-Malina ◽  
Itzik Cooper ◽  
Vivian I Teichberg

At high concentrations, glutamate (Glu) exerts potent neurotoxic properties, leading to irreversible brain damages found in numerous neurological disorders. The accepted notion that Glu homeostasis in brain interstitial fluid is maintained primarily through the activity of Glu transporters present on glial cells does not take into account the possible contribution of endothelial cells constituting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to this process. Here, we present evidence for the presence of the Glu transporters, excitatory amino-acid transporters (EAATs) 1 to 3, in porcine brain endothelial cells (PBECs) and show their participation in Glu uptake into PBECs. Moreover, transport of Glu across three in vitro models of the BBB is investigated for the first time, and evidence for Glu transport across the BBB in both directions is presented. Our results provide evidence that the BBB can function in the efflux mode to selectively remove Glu, via specific transporters, from the abluminal side (brain) into the luminal compartment (blood). Furthermore, we found that glial cells lining the BBB have an active role in the efflux process by taking up Glu and releasing it, through hemichannels, anion channels, and possibly the reversal of its EAATs, in close proximity to ECs, which in turn take up Glu and release it to the blood.


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