The glia doctrine: addressing the role of glial cells in healthy brain ageing

TY - JOUR

T1 - The glia doctrine

T2 - addressing the role of glial cells in healthy brain ageing

AU - Nagelhus, Erlend A

AU - Amiry-Moghaddam, Mahmood

AU - Bergersen, Linda H

AU - Bjaalie, Jan G

AU - Eriksson, Jens

AU - Gundersen, Vidar

AU - Leergaard, Trygve B

AU - Morth, J Preben

AU - Storm-Mathisen, Jon

AU - Torp, Reidun

AU - Walhovd, Kristine B

AU - Tønjum, Tone

N1 - Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

PY - 2013/10

Y1 - 2013/10

N2 - Glial cells in their plurality pervade the human brain and impact on brain structure and function. A principal component of the emerging glial doctrine is the hypothesis that astrocytes, the most abundant type of glial cells, trigger major molecular processes leading to brain ageing. Astrocyte biology has been examined using molecular, biochemical and structural methods, as well as 3D brain imaging in live animals and humans. Exosomes are extracelluar membrane vesicles that facilitate communication between glia, and have significant potential for biomarker discovery and drug delivery. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may indirectly influence the structure and function of membrane proteins expressed in glial cells and predispose specific cell subgroups to degeneration. Physical exercise may reduce or retard age-related brain deterioration by a mechanism involving neuro-glial processes. It is most likely that additional information about the distribution, structure and function of glial cells will yield novel insight into human brain ageing. Systematic studies of glia and their functions are expected to eventually lead to earlier detection of ageing-related brain dysfunction and to interventions that could delay, reduce or prevent brain dysfunction.

AB - Glial cells in their plurality pervade the human brain and impact on brain structure and function. A principal component of the emerging glial doctrine is the hypothesis that astrocytes, the most abundant type of glial cells, trigger major molecular processes leading to brain ageing. Astrocyte biology has been examined using molecular, biochemical and structural methods, as well as 3D brain imaging in live animals and humans. Exosomes are extracelluar membrane vesicles that facilitate communication between glia, and have significant potential for biomarker discovery and drug delivery. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may indirectly influence the structure and function of membrane proteins expressed in glial cells and predispose specific cell subgroups to degeneration. Physical exercise may reduce or retard age-related brain deterioration by a mechanism involving neuro-glial processes. It is most likely that additional information about the distribution, structure and function of glial cells will yield novel insight into human brain ageing. Systematic studies of glia and their functions are expected to eventually lead to earlier detection of ageing-related brain dysfunction and to interventions that could delay, reduce or prevent brain dysfunction.

KW - Aging/metabolism

KW - Astrocytes/metabolism

KW - Brain/metabolism

KW - Brain Diseases/metabolism

KW - Cell Communication

KW - Exosomes/metabolism

KW - Humans

U2 - 10.1016/j.mad.2013.10.001

DO - 10.1016/j.mad.2013.10.001

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24141107

SN - 0047-6374

VL - 134

SP - 449

EP - 459

JO - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development

JF - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development

IS - 10

ER -