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Original Research Vol. 3, Issue 1 (2016)

The Role of Astrocytes in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Dimitri Falco1, David Eve1,2, Avery Thomson1 and Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis1-4*
Corresponding Author: Falco D, Eve D, Thomson A and Garbuzova-Davis S
Received: Apr 20, 2016
Accepted: May 01, 2017
Published: May 04, 2016
Views: 9
DOI: 10.14437

Abstract

Astrocytes are glial cells that play a crucial role in providing a supportive environment for neurons, mainly by cell. cell interactions mediating numerous physiological and biochemical functions in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes are also critical for intercellular signaling in the neurovascular unit. Although numerous reports have detailed the complex effects of astrocytes upon neurons in neurodegenerative disease, whether or not astrocytes act as initiators or contributors in the pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) remains unclear. A broad overview of astrocytes’ link to motor neuron degeneration in ALS, as well as specific functions of astrocytes within the neurovascular unit is presented. This review summarizes current knowledge of the astrocyte’s role in disease pathogenesis and discusses the potential of the astrocyte as a target for future ALS therapies. 

 

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Falco D, Eve D, Thomson A and Garbuzova-Davis S (2016) The Role of Astrocytes in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neurol Res Ther Open Access 3:114
Copyright: Copyright: © 2016 NRTOA. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, Version 3.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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