http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301008215300010
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- Astrocytes play essential roles in maintaining normal brain function.
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- Astrocytes perform multiple functions both detrimental and beneficial on neurological recovery after stroke.
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- These detrimental and beneficial effects of astrocytes designate astrocytes as a promising therapeutic target for neuroprotection and neurorestoration.
Abstract
Astrocytes
are the most abundant cell type within the central nervous system. They
play essential roles in maintaining normal brain function, as they are a
critical structural and functional part of the tripartite synapses and
the neurovascular unit, and communicate with neurons, oligodendrocytes
and endothelial cells. After an ischemic stroke, astrocytes perform
multiple functions both detrimental and beneficial, for neuronal
survival during the acute phase. Aspects of the astrocytic inflammatory
response to stroke may aggravate the ischemic lesion, but astrocytes
also provide benefit for neuroprotection, by limiting lesion extension
via anti-excitotoxicity effects and releasing neurotrophins. Similarly,
during the late recovery phase after stroke, the glial scar may obstruct
axonal regeneration and subsequently reduce the functional outcome;
however, astrocytes also contribute to angiogenesis, neurogenesis,
synaptogenesis, and axonal remodeling, and thereby promote neurological
recovery. Thus, the pivotal involvement of astrocytes in normal brain
function and responses to an ischemic lesion designates them as
excellent therapeutic targets to improve functional outcome following
stroke. In this review, we will focus on functions of astrocytes and
astrocyte-mediated events during stroke and recovery. We will provide an
overview of approaches on how to reduce the detrimental effects and
amplify the beneficial effects of astrocytes on neuroprotection and on
neurorestoration post stroke, which may lead to novel and clinically
relevant therapies for stroke.
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