The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in Therapy
Even though Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is of significant interest to the scientific community, its pathogenesis is very complicated and not well-understood. A great deal of progress has been made in AD research recently and with the advent of these new insights more therapeutic benefits may...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/8/3/93 |
| _version_ | 1818759772323708928 |
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| author | Saif Shahriar Rahman Nirzhor Rubayat Islam Khan Sharmind Neelotpol |
| author_facet | Saif Shahriar Rahman Nirzhor Rubayat Islam Khan Sharmind Neelotpol |
| author_sort | Saif Shahriar Rahman Nirzhor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Even though Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is of significant interest to the scientific community, its pathogenesis is very complicated and not well-understood. A great deal of progress has been made in AD research recently and with the advent of these new insights more therapeutic benefits may be identified that could help patients around the world. Much of the research in AD thus far has been very neuron-oriented; however, recent studies suggest that glial cells, i.e., microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (NG2 glia), are linked to the pathogenesis of AD and may offer several potential therapeutic targets against AD. In addition to a number of other functions, glial cells are responsible for maintaining homeostasis (i.e., concentration of ions, neurotransmitters, etc.) within the central nervous system (CNS) and are crucial to the structural integrity of neurons. This review explores the: (i) role of glial cells in AD pathogenesis; (ii) complex functionalities of the components involved; and (iii) potential therapeutic targets that could eventually lead to a better quality of life for AD patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:48:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-171df82ae9fc444480a7d1a80e90d5ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:48:02Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-171df82ae9fc444480a7d1a80e90d5ef2022-12-21T21:17:25ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2018-09-01839310.3390/biom8030093biom8030093The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in TherapySaif Shahriar Rahman Nirzhor0Rubayat Islam Khan1Sharmind Neelotpol2Department of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Dhaka 1212, BangladeshDepartment of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Dhaka 1212, BangladeshDepartment of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Dhaka 1212, BangladeshEven though Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is of significant interest to the scientific community, its pathogenesis is very complicated and not well-understood. A great deal of progress has been made in AD research recently and with the advent of these new insights more therapeutic benefits may be identified that could help patients around the world. Much of the research in AD thus far has been very neuron-oriented; however, recent studies suggest that glial cells, i.e., microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (NG2 glia), are linked to the pathogenesis of AD and may offer several potential therapeutic targets against AD. In addition to a number of other functions, glial cells are responsible for maintaining homeostasis (i.e., concentration of ions, neurotransmitters, etc.) within the central nervous system (CNS) and are crucial to the structural integrity of neurons. This review explores the: (i) role of glial cells in AD pathogenesis; (ii) complex functionalities of the components involved; and (iii) potential therapeutic targets that could eventually lead to a better quality of life for AD patients.http://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/8/3/93glial cellsastrocytesNG2 gliamicrogliaoligodendrocytesAlzheimer’s diseaseneurodegenerative diseaseAβ-peptides |
| spellingShingle | Saif Shahriar Rahman Nirzhor Rubayat Islam Khan Sharmind Neelotpol The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in Therapy Biomolecules glial cells astrocytes NG2 glia microglia oligodendrocytes Alzheimer’s disease neurodegenerative disease Aβ-peptides |
| title | The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in Therapy |
| title_full | The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in Therapy |
| title_fullStr | The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in Therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in Therapy |
| title_short | The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in Therapy |
| title_sort | biology of glial cells and their complex roles in alzheimer s disease new opportunities in therapy |
| topic | glial cells astrocytes NG2 glia microglia oligodendrocytes Alzheimer’s disease neurodegenerative disease Aβ-peptides |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/8/3/93 |
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