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Astrocyte‐intrinsic regulation of central nervous system inflammation and neurodegeneration
Author(s) -
Rothhammer Veit,
Quintana Francisco J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical and experimental neuroimmunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 15
ISSN - 1759-1961
DOI - 10.1111/cen3.12293
Subject(s) - astrocyte , neuroscience , neurodegeneration , central nervous system , multiple sclerosis , inflammation , blood–brain barrier , neuroinflammation , context (archaeology) , homeostasis , nervous system , immune system , microglia , neurotoxicity , neurotransmitter , biology , immunology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , disease , paleontology , toxicity
Astrocytes constitute the majority of cells in the mammalian brain, where they carry out fine‐tuned tasks that include, for example, the formation of the blood–brain barrier, the provision of structural support, the regulation of ion homeostasis and neurotransmitter recycling, and the modulation of neuronal function. In the context of autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system during multiple sclerosis, these and other functions are challenged, while astrocytes modulate the local inflammatory response not only by regulating the blood–brain barrier permeability, but also by controlling the recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells and neurotoxicity. In the present review, we discuss astrocyte‐intrinsic mechanisms that affect multiple sclerosis pathology and might provide potential targets for therapeutic intervention.