Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity
Astrocytes play a significant role in coordinating neural development and provide critical support for the function of the CNS. They possess important adaptation capacities that range from their transition towards reactive astrocytes to their ability to undergo reprogramming, thereby revealing their...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
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Elsevier
2018
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| _version_ | 1826261032844132352 |
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| author | Pavlou, M Grandbarbe, L Buckley, N Niclou, S Michelucci, A |
| author_facet | Pavlou, M Grandbarbe, L Buckley, N Niclou, S Michelucci, A |
| author_sort | Pavlou, M |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Astrocytes play a significant role in coordinating neural development and provide critical support for the function of the CNS. They possess important adaptation capacities that range from their transition towards reactive astrocytes to their ability to undergo reprogramming, thereby revealing their potential to retain latent features of neural progenitor cells. We propose that the mechanisms underlying reactive astrogliosis or astrocyte reprogramming provide an opportunity for initiating neuronal regeneration, a process that is notably reduced in the mammalian nervous system throughout evolution. Conversely, this plasticity may also affect normal astrocytic functions resulting in pathologies ranging from neurodevelopmental disorders to neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors. We postulate that epigenetic mechanisms linking extrinsic cues and intrinsic transcriptional programs are key factors to maintain astrocyte identity and function, and critically, to control the balance of regenerative and degenerative activity. Here, we will review the main evidences supporting this concept. We propose that unravelling the epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms underlying the acquisition of astrocyte identity and plasticity, as well as understanding how these processes are modulated by the local microenvironment under specific threatening or pathological conditions, may pave the way to new therapeutic avenues for several neurological disorders including neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors of astrocytic lineage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:15:10Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:18182d11-866a-42df-bd4c-a04ad45f4715 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:15:10Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:18182d11-866a-42df-bd4c-a04ad45f47152022-03-26T10:41:24ZTranscriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identityJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:18182d11-866a-42df-bd4c-a04ad45f4715Symplectic Elements at OxfordElsevier2018Pavlou, MGrandbarbe, LBuckley, NNiclou, SMichelucci, AAstrocytes play a significant role in coordinating neural development and provide critical support for the function of the CNS. They possess important adaptation capacities that range from their transition towards reactive astrocytes to their ability to undergo reprogramming, thereby revealing their potential to retain latent features of neural progenitor cells. We propose that the mechanisms underlying reactive astrogliosis or astrocyte reprogramming provide an opportunity for initiating neuronal regeneration, a process that is notably reduced in the mammalian nervous system throughout evolution. Conversely, this plasticity may also affect normal astrocytic functions resulting in pathologies ranging from neurodevelopmental disorders to neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors. We postulate that epigenetic mechanisms linking extrinsic cues and intrinsic transcriptional programs are key factors to maintain astrocyte identity and function, and critically, to control the balance of regenerative and degenerative activity. Here, we will review the main evidences supporting this concept. We propose that unravelling the epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms underlying the acquisition of astrocyte identity and plasticity, as well as understanding how these processes are modulated by the local microenvironment under specific threatening or pathological conditions, may pave the way to new therapeutic avenues for several neurological disorders including neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors of astrocytic lineage. |
| spellingShingle | Pavlou, M Grandbarbe, L Buckley, N Niclou, S Michelucci, A Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity |
| title | Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity |
| title_full | Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity |
| title_short | Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity |
| title_sort | transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pavloum transcriptionalandepigeneticmechanismsunderlyingastrocyteidentity AT grandbarbel transcriptionalandepigeneticmechanismsunderlyingastrocyteidentity AT buckleyn transcriptionalandepigeneticmechanismsunderlyingastrocyteidentity AT niclous transcriptionalandepigeneticmechanismsunderlyingastrocyteidentity AT micheluccia transcriptionalandepigeneticmechanismsunderlyingastrocyteidentity |