Functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders: pharmacological significance as a drug target
Astrocytes play an essential role in supporting brain functions in physiological and pathological states. Modulation of their pathophysiological responses have beneficial actions on nerve tissue injured by brain insults and neurodegenerative diseases, therefore astrocytes are recognized as promising...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2015.00261/full |
| _version_ | 1818295971349528576 |
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| author | Yutaka eKoyama |
| author_facet | Yutaka eKoyama |
| author_sort | Yutaka eKoyama |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Astrocytes play an essential role in supporting brain functions in physiological and pathological states. Modulation of their pathophysiological responses have beneficial actions on nerve tissue injured by brain insults and neurodegenerative diseases, therefore astrocytes are recognized as promising targets for neuroprotective drugs. Recent investigations have identified several astrocytic mechanisms for modulating synaptic transmission and neural plasticity. These include altered expression of transporters for neurotransmitters, release of gliotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, and intercellular communication through gap junctions. Investigation of patients with mental disorders shows morphological and functional alterations in astrocytes. According to these observations, manipulation of astrocytic function by gene mutation and pharmacological tools reproduce mental disorder-like behavior in experimental animals. Some drugs clinically used for mental disorders affect astrocyte function. As experimental evidence shows their role in the pathogenesis of mental disorders, astrocytes have gained much attention as drug targets for mental disorders. In this article, I review functional alterations of astrocytes in several mental disorders including schizophrenia, mood disorder, drug dependence, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The pharmacological significance of astrocytes in mental disorders is also discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:56:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6729b7bf462e4b8d86ffb5ba9ee5a828 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:56:07Z |
| publishDate | 2015-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-6729b7bf462e4b8d86ffb5ba9ee5a8282022-12-22T00:00:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022015-07-01910.3389/fncel.2015.00261144995Functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders: pharmacological significance as a drug targetYutaka eKoyama0Osaka Ohtani UniversityAstrocytes play an essential role in supporting brain functions in physiological and pathological states. Modulation of their pathophysiological responses have beneficial actions on nerve tissue injured by brain insults and neurodegenerative diseases, therefore astrocytes are recognized as promising targets for neuroprotective drugs. Recent investigations have identified several astrocytic mechanisms for modulating synaptic transmission and neural plasticity. These include altered expression of transporters for neurotransmitters, release of gliotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, and intercellular communication through gap junctions. Investigation of patients with mental disorders shows morphological and functional alterations in astrocytes. According to these observations, manipulation of astrocytic function by gene mutation and pharmacological tools reproduce mental disorder-like behavior in experimental animals. Some drugs clinically used for mental disorders affect astrocyte function. As experimental evidence shows their role in the pathogenesis of mental disorders, astrocytes have gained much attention as drug targets for mental disorders. In this article, I review functional alterations of astrocytes in several mental disorders including schizophrenia, mood disorder, drug dependence, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The pharmacological significance of astrocytes in mental disorders is also discussed.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2015.00261/fullSchizophreniaastrocyteDrug dependenceneurodevelopmental disordermood disease |
| spellingShingle | Yutaka eKoyama Functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders: pharmacological significance as a drug target Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience Schizophrenia astrocyte Drug dependence neurodevelopmental disorder mood disease |
| title | Functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders: pharmacological significance as a drug target |
| title_full | Functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders: pharmacological significance as a drug target |
| title_fullStr | Functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders: pharmacological significance as a drug target |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders: pharmacological significance as a drug target |
| title_short | Functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders: pharmacological significance as a drug target |
| title_sort | functional alterations of astrocytes in mental disorders pharmacological significance as a drug target |
| topic | Schizophrenia astrocyte Drug dependence neurodevelopmental disorder mood disease |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2015.00261/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yutakaekoyama functionalalterationsofastrocytesinmentaldisorderspharmacologicalsignificanceasadrugtarget |