Articles tagged with Glia
Researchers have identified a cellular mechanism that prevents retinal regeneration in mammals, but allows for regeneration in zebrafish. By manipulating this pathway, it may be possible to restore lost vision by activating the retina's regenerative capacity.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute found that excess calcium in glia cells causes them to hyper-activate a molecular pathway leading to seizures. They identified calcineurin and sandman proteins as key players in the process, suggesting a promising avenue for future drug development.
Researchers at the Buck Institute have identified a novel molecular mechanism that orchestrates harmful inflammatory signaling in glial cells, contributing to Parkinson's disease pathology. Blocking Furin 1, a catalytic protein, in dopaminergic neurons reduces toxic cross-talk and protects neurons from degeneration.
Researchers at Kanazawa University found that a neuroscience-protein regulates brain boundary formation in fly brains by exchanging with its partners between neurons and glial cells. The protein's balance of attraction and repulsion regulates boundary formation.
A new study has discovered a mechanism for regulating sleep in fruit flies that involves glial cells and an ingredient commonly found in energy drinks like Red Bull. The researchers found that the gene Eaat2 promotes wakefulness by limiting the length and intensity of sleep periods.
A new gene therapy can reprogram brain glial cells into functioning neurons, potentially treating stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers hope the innovative technology may one day help patients with severe neurological disorders.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that mature inhibitory neurons can be transformed into a different type of neuron without relying on stem cells. The study reveals the possibility of changing mature neurons in adulthood and may lead to therapeutic strategies for treating neurological diseases.
Researchers accidentally convert mature inhibitory neurons into dopamine-producing cells using a cocktail of proteins. The new cells show rhythmic activity and network connections similar to native dopaminergic neurons.
Researchers have reversed congenital blindness in mice by changing supportive cells in the retina called Müller glia into rod photoreceptors. The new technique integrates Müller glia-derived rods into the brain's visual pathway, enabling mice to regain functional vision.
New study reveals that protein molecules in brain cells are broken down and replaced at different rates, depending on their location. The study found that proteins near the surface of the cell have shorter lifespans, while those involved in energy metabolism have longer lifespans.
Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a link between intestinal inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, and communication between sensory neurons and enteric glia. The study found that specific molecular changes spark discomfort before symptoms appear.
A study by McGill University Health Centre researchers has uncovered the mechanisms of overhydration leading to hyponatremia, a common condition in patients with traumatic brain injuries. The study reveals that glial cells detect overhydration and trigger the release of taurine, which inhibits hydration sensing neurons.
A study led by researchers at Linköping University found that amyloid beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, has different properties in different cell types. Glial cells can produce mature, less harmful forms of the protein, while neurons are more susceptible to damage.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that Müller glia play a crucial role in preserving retinal synapses and preventing vision loss in macular degeneration. The research suggests that Müller glia are an important therapeutic target for treating degenerative eye diseases.
Researchers discovered that glial cells increase the acidity of the extracellular environment when exposed to ATP, leading to a massive release of acid. This triggers a feedback loop that prevents over-excitability of neurons by inhibiting neurotransmitter release.
Researchers uncover new insights into how stem cells transform into brain cells controlling leg movements in fruit flies, with implications for understanding comparable systems in humans. The study finds that two critical cell types, born from the same stem cell, facilitate the construction of a mature motor system.
Researchers discovered that impairing the partnership between brain cells leads to neurodegeneration. Apolipoprotein APOE4 was found to mediate lipid droplet accumulation, increasing oxidative stress and breaking protective mechanisms. This study provides new insights into Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers discovered that disrupting DNA loops in glial cells can reduce NFIA expression and tumor proliferation. This finding opens a potential new approach to treating glioma, a deadly form of brain cancer.
A team of biologists has found that glia, previously regarded as passive support cells, are crucial to nerve-cell development in the brain. The study reveals that fundamental questions about brain development can only be understood when accounting for glial contributions.
New research shows that injured mouse eyes can regenerate neurons, integrating them into the eye's circuitry. The study uses a zebrafish clue to discover cues that reprogram Müller glia into retinal neurons, opening new approaches for treating eye trauma and retinal disease.
Researchers at Hokkaido University found that the GLAST molecule facilitates functional wiring of brain cells involved in motor coordination. Glutamate transporters, like GLAST, enable high-fidelity signal transmission between nerve cells.
Researchers successfully regenerated functioning retinal cells in adult mice using the Ascl1 gene, a breakthrough that could lead to treatments for retinal damage caused by trauma, glaucoma, and other eye diseases. The discovery builds on previous research in zebrafish, which have a remarkable ability to regenerate damaged tissue.
Researchers have characterized cerebral organoids, showing they recapitulate human brain developmental processes and involve forebrain organizing centers. These findings advance our understanding of normal organoid development and are essential for modeling human developmental diseases.
Researchers found that glial cells, which support neurons, undergo significant changes with aging, particularly in brain regions damaged by neurodegenerative diseases. This discovery suggests a new approach to understanding and treating dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases.
Researchers have found that Aravive-S6 can inhibit Zika infection of human glial cells, adding to its previously reported anticancer properties. The study suggests a potential antiviral role for the molecule in treating neurological disorders caused by the virus.
Huntington's disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the loss of medium spiny neurons and motor control problems. A new award will support research to develop a stem cell-based therapy that swaps sick brain cells for healthy ones.
Researchers successfully boosted regeneration of mature nerve cells in the spinal cords of adult mammals, increasing the number of newly matured neurons by tenfold. The approach involves silencing the p53-p21 protein pathway and adding growth factors to boost neuron production.
Researchers will investigate molecular and genetic factors guiding axon growth in the retina, with goals of restoring vision through neuronal regeneration. The projects aim to develop breakthrough therapies for blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
A team of scientists has discovered that the intestinal nervous system protects the bowel's lining against inflammation and microbial aggressions. The researchers found that this mechanism is under control of the Ret protein, which regulates the production of interleukin-22, a molecule important for gut repair.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that glial energy metabolism plays a critical role in addiction-related behaviors. Researchers found that altering glial lactate release and nerve cell uptake of lactate prevented long-lasting relapse in rodents.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have made significant breakthroughs in treating Huntington's disease by transplanting healthy glia cells into mice. The study shows that this method can prolong life expectancy and alleviate symptoms, offering hope for future treatment of neurological diseases.
A new CU-Boulder study found that morphine treatment can cause chronic pain by exacerbating the release of pain signals from specific immune cells in the spinal cord. This could have far-reaching implications for humans, as opioids are already linked to thousands of fatal overdoses annually.
Researchers discovered the organic cation transporter CarT is necessary for maintaining histamine levels in fruit fly brains, ensuring normal vision. Disrupting this process led to impaired vision and behavioral abnormalities in flies.
Researchers at Lund University have developed a new type of brain implant that uses nanowires to stimulate or capture signals from different areas of the brain. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatments for Parkinson's disease, depression, autism, and paralysis.
Researchers developed a new method to capture how brain cells interact, discovering novel proteins necessary for myelin production. This breakthrough provides insights into myelin diseases and improves understanding of cellular interactions.
A study in mice reveals that Sox2 protein can convert NG2 glia, a type of support cell, into neurons in the injured cerebral cortex. This finding supports the notion that cellular reprogramming may become a way to replace degenerated neurons in the adult brain.
Researchers developed a therapy combining motoneuron-like cell transplantation with GDNF delivery, reducing cavity formations and increasing cell density. This treatment exhibited superior promoting effects on motor function recovery compared to individual therapies.
Retinal glial cell activation is involved in retinal synaptic plasticity following acute high intraocular pressure-induced retinal damage. Inhibiting glial cell activation may be a promising strategy to modulate retinal synaptic plasticity and protect neurons from death.
Researchers from Sichuan University found that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) transfection promotes the neuronal differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. This enhancement is associated with increased expression of GDNF, nerve growth factor, and growth-associated protein-43. The study suggests a therape...
Researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum investigated anti-epilepsy drugs' effects on glial cells. They found that valproic acid and gabapentin promote cell survival, while phenytoin and carbamazepine have pro-inflammatory properties.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in printing cells from the human retina using piezoelectric inkjet technology, opening up new possibilities for treating blindness. The study successfully printed two types of cells, ganglion cells and glial cells, which remained healthy and retained their ability to survive and grow in culture.
SMEK1 promotes neural stem cell differentiation and suppresses uncontrolled proliferation, while collaborating with Protein Phosphatase 4 to regulate PAR3 activity. This discovery offers new hope for patients with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Recent research reveals that Toll-like receptor 4 expressed in cerebral cortical neurons stimulates inflammatory pathways, suggesting that neurons may be both passive victims and activators of neuroinflammation. Lipopolysaccharide triggers the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB pathway, leading to neuroinflammatory responses.
A new study by Salk scientists reveals that the landscape of DNA methylation in brain cells is highly dynamic during brain circuitry formation, helping to understand how information in the genome is controlled from fetal development to adulthood. The discovery opens a deeper understanding of how intricate patterns of connectivity in th...
Researchers implanted human brain cells into mice, finding enhanced learning and memory compared to normal mice. The study suggests that human-specific glial form and function contribute to the evolution of human cognition.
Dr. Teresa Murray, a Louisiana Tech biomedical engineering professor, has received NIH funding for her research on glial cells and their role in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Her innovative approach involves creating a tiny glass lens to study glial cell function and interactions with neurons.
Researchers discovered a protein that promotes the adoption of bipolar glial shape in zebrafish, encouraging nerve regeneration and potentially offering a new therapeutic target. The findings suggest an alternative approach to scar tissue formation, which is a major barrier to spinal cord repair in mammals.
Researchers discover that decreasing Lhx2 activity triggers glial reactivity, while increasing its activity is key to producing protective proteins. This finding holds promise for developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
A team of researchers has identified a novel transcripitonal cascade that controls gliogenesis, the process by which glial cells are generated from neural stem cells. This discovery provides new insights into how glial cells support neuronal function and are implicated in neurological disorders such as Retts Syndrome, ALS, and Multiple...
Researchers at OHSU discovered glial cells, previously thought to support growth, actually regulate the growth of brainstem neurons responsible for cardiorespiratory control. This finding has profound implications for the prevention and treatment of SIDS, with potential applications in high blood pressure and other disorders.
Researchers at Whitehead Institute found that brain glia cells increase their DNA content through polyploidization to maintain the blood-brain barrier. This process allows for growth while keeping the barrier intact, as seen in other tissues like the placenta and skin.
New Tel Aviv University research reveals glia cells' pivotal role in brain plasticity, adapting to new stimuli and regulating neural activity. Glia cells sort information for learning purposes, controlling the transfer of signals between neurons.
Scientists discover that genetic dysfunction in multiple cell types contributes to SCA7, a devastating neurological disorder. Targeting specific cell types may improve treatment and slow disease progression.
A recent study published in Science has discovered that the majority of scar cells in spinal cord injuries are derived from pericytes, not glial cells. This finding suggests that modulating pericyte activity could potentially stimulate functional recovery after CNS damage.
A Johns Hopkins team discovered that a single brain stem cell can replace itself and generate specialized neurons and glia. They also found that these cells can amplify, producing two new stem cells like themselves.
Researchers found that increased NOTCH activity helps sleep-deprived fruit flies learn and behave normally. Boosting NOTCH may provide a natural way to combat cognitive deficits caused by prolonged wakefulness.
A new compound, ATL313, has shown promise in reversing multiple sclerosis (MS) effects by resetting glial cells to an anti-inflammatory state. The treatment stopped MS-caused paralysis in rats for weeks at a time and could potentially heal lesions, offering a major breakthrough in treating MS symptoms.
A research team led by Kang Zhang aims to use chemicals to reprogram Muller cells into photoreceptors in the eye, potentially leading to new cell-based therapy and small molecule drugs for regenerative medicine. The goal is to restore visual function lost due to diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
A new study found that glial cells can switch from protecting neurons to killing them when triggered by proNGF. The process can lead to vision loss and blindness. Researchers hope to find ways to block proNGF's effects to prevent this damage.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that genes involved in fin regeneration and heart repair are also required for rebuilding damaged light receptors in the eye. The study suggests that a common molecular mechanism guides the process, no matter what body part is damaged.