Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and fatal disease, in which neuronal damage at its late stage cannot be easily reversed. Because AD progression is caused by multiple factors including diverse cellular processes, studies on AD pathogenesis at the molecular and cellular level are challenging. Based on the lessons from unsuccessful neuron-focused research for an AD cure, non-cell autonomous mechanisms including brain inflammation and reactive astrocytes have recently been in the spotlight as potential therapeutic targets for AD. Studies have shown that reactive astrocytes are not only the result of inflammatory defense reactions, but also an active catabolic decomposer that acts by taking up amyloid beta toxins. Here, we give an overview of the characteristics of reactive astrocytes as pathological features of AD. Reactive astrocytes exert biphasic effects, that is, beneficial or detrimental depending on multiple factors. Many efforts have been put forth for defining and characterizing molecular signatures for the beneficial and detrimental reactive astrocytes. In the foreseeable future, manipulating and targeting each established molecular signature should have profound therapeutic implications for the treatment of AD.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Neuroscience Research |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 2017 Jan 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- Brain inflammation
- Reactive astrocytes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Reactive astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease : A double-edged sword. / Chun, Heejung; Lee, Changjoon.
In: Neuroscience Research, 01.01.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Reactive astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease
T2 - A double-edged sword
AU - Chun, Heejung
AU - Lee, Changjoon
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and fatal disease, in which neuronal damage at its late stage cannot be easily reversed. Because AD progression is caused by multiple factors including diverse cellular processes, studies on AD pathogenesis at the molecular and cellular level are challenging. Based on the lessons from unsuccessful neuron-focused research for an AD cure, non-cell autonomous mechanisms including brain inflammation and reactive astrocytes have recently been in the spotlight as potential therapeutic targets for AD. Studies have shown that reactive astrocytes are not only the result of inflammatory defense reactions, but also an active catabolic decomposer that acts by taking up amyloid beta toxins. Here, we give an overview of the characteristics of reactive astrocytes as pathological features of AD. Reactive astrocytes exert biphasic effects, that is, beneficial or detrimental depending on multiple factors. Many efforts have been put forth for defining and characterizing molecular signatures for the beneficial and detrimental reactive astrocytes. In the foreseeable future, manipulating and targeting each established molecular signature should have profound therapeutic implications for the treatment of AD.
AB - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and fatal disease, in which neuronal damage at its late stage cannot be easily reversed. Because AD progression is caused by multiple factors including diverse cellular processes, studies on AD pathogenesis at the molecular and cellular level are challenging. Based on the lessons from unsuccessful neuron-focused research for an AD cure, non-cell autonomous mechanisms including brain inflammation and reactive astrocytes have recently been in the spotlight as potential therapeutic targets for AD. Studies have shown that reactive astrocytes are not only the result of inflammatory defense reactions, but also an active catabolic decomposer that acts by taking up amyloid beta toxins. Here, we give an overview of the characteristics of reactive astrocytes as pathological features of AD. Reactive astrocytes exert biphasic effects, that is, beneficial or detrimental depending on multiple factors. Many efforts have been put forth for defining and characterizing molecular signatures for the beneficial and detrimental reactive astrocytes. In the foreseeable future, manipulating and targeting each established molecular signature should have profound therapeutic implications for the treatment of AD.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Brain inflammation
KW - Reactive astrocytes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037735178&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85037735178&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neures.2017.11.012
DO - 10.1016/j.neures.2017.11.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 29225140
AN - SCOPUS:85037735178
JO - Neuroscience Research
JF - Neuroscience Research
SN - 0168-0102
ER -