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The Importance of astrocyte‐derived purines in the modulation of sleep
Author(s) -
Blutstein Tamara,
Haydon Philip G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.22422
Subject(s) - adenosine , biology , neuroscience , neurotransmission , astrocyte , sleep (system call) , homeostasis , purine metabolism , central nervous system , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , endocrinology , biochemistry , computer science , operating system , enzyme
Sleep is an evolutionarily conserved phenomenon that is clearly essential for survival, but we have limited understanding of how and why it is so important. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)/adenosine signaling has been known to be important in the regulation of sleep and recent evidence suggests a critical role for gliotransmission in the modulation of sleep homeostasis. Herein, we review the regulation of ATP/adenosine in the nervous system and provide evidence of a critical role for astrocyte‐derived adenosine in the regulation of sleep homeostasis and the modulation of synaptic transmission. Further understanding of the role of glial cells in the regulation of sleep may provide new targets for pharmaceutical intervention in the treatment of brain dysfunctions, specifically those that are comorbid with sleep disruptions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc