Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose incidence is likely to duplicate in the next 30 years along with the progressive aging of the western population. Non-cell-specific therapeutics or therapeutics designed to tackle aberrant pathways within neurons failed to slow...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/8/2019 |
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| author | Chiara F. Valori Agostino Possenti Liliana Brambilla Daniela Rossi |
| author_facet | Chiara F. Valori Agostino Possenti Liliana Brambilla Daniela Rossi |
| author_sort | Chiara F. Valori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose incidence is likely to duplicate in the next 30 years along with the progressive aging of the western population. Non-cell-specific therapeutics or therapeutics designed to tackle aberrant pathways within neurons failed to slow down or halt neurodegeneration. Yet, in the last few years, our knowledge of the importance of glial cells to maintain the central nervous system homeostasis in health conditions has increased exponentially, along with our awareness of their fundamental and multifaced role in pathological conditions. Among glial cells, astrocytes emerge as promising therapeutic targets in various neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we present the latest evidence showing the astonishing level of specialization that astrocytes display to fulfill the demands of their neuronal partners as well as their plasticity upon injury. Then, we discuss the controversies that fuel the current debate on these cells. We tackle evidence of a potential beneficial effect of cell therapy, achieved by transplanting astrocytes or their precursors. Afterwards, we introduce the different strategies proposed to modulate astrocyte functions in neurodegeneration, ranging from lifestyle changes to environmental cues. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the recent advancements to develop astrocyte-specific delivery systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:56:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb20540b10c44b95961b071959d2a7df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:56:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb20540b10c44b95961b071959d2a7df2023-11-22T07:10:35ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092021-08-01108201910.3390/cells10082019Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative DisordersChiara F. Valori0Agostino Possenti1Liliana Brambilla2Daniela Rossi3Molecular Neuropathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, GermanyLaboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, ItalyLaboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, ItalyLaboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, ItalyNeurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose incidence is likely to duplicate in the next 30 years along with the progressive aging of the western population. Non-cell-specific therapeutics or therapeutics designed to tackle aberrant pathways within neurons failed to slow down or halt neurodegeneration. Yet, in the last few years, our knowledge of the importance of glial cells to maintain the central nervous system homeostasis in health conditions has increased exponentially, along with our awareness of their fundamental and multifaced role in pathological conditions. Among glial cells, astrocytes emerge as promising therapeutic targets in various neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we present the latest evidence showing the astonishing level of specialization that astrocytes display to fulfill the demands of their neuronal partners as well as their plasticity upon injury. Then, we discuss the controversies that fuel the current debate on these cells. We tackle evidence of a potential beneficial effect of cell therapy, achieved by transplanting astrocytes or their precursors. Afterwards, we introduce the different strategies proposed to modulate astrocyte functions in neurodegeneration, ranging from lifestyle changes to environmental cues. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the recent advancements to develop astrocyte-specific delivery systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/8/2019neurodegenerative diseasesastrocytesneuroinflammationrehabilitationtargeted therapy |
| spellingShingle | Chiara F. Valori Agostino Possenti Liliana Brambilla Daniela Rossi Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders Cells neurodegenerative diseases astrocytes neuroinflammation rehabilitation targeted therapy |
| title | Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_full | Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_fullStr | Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_short | Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_sort | challenges and opportunities of targeting astrocytes to halt neurodegenerative disorders |
| topic | neurodegenerative diseases astrocytes neuroinflammation rehabilitation targeted therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/8/2019 |
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