Articles tagged with Glia
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.
A newly identified molecular pathway directed stem cells to produce glial cells, providing insights into the neurobiology of Down's syndrome and central nervous system disorders. The study found that synaptojanin-1 is essential for glia production, which may lead to the development of drugs that inhibit glial proliferation.
Researchers found that two receptors, neogenin and Unc5B, work together to guide a growing axon towards its destination. The discovery sheds light on how the axon navigates through the body and could have implications for understanding neurological disorders.
Researchers are exploring various factors that contribute to glaucoma, including the role of glial cells, mitochondria, and immune response. The report highlights potential approaches for neuroprotection, such as targeting mitochondrial events and manipulating the immune system to repair neural tissue.
Researchers at the University of Washington have reported that mammals can be stimulated to regrow inner nerve cells in their damaged retinas. The study used a specific type of cell called Müller glia and found that it could be encouraged to regenerate in living mice by injecting growth factors.
Scientists have discovered that glial cells play a crucial role in regulating the activity of sensory neurons and enabling animals to perceive their environment. Without glia, sensory neurons are unable to coordinate an appropriate response to stimuli.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that giving infants and children 100% oxygen after a brain injury can cause more harm than good. The study suggests that brief exposure to 100% oxygen during resuscitation worsens white-matter injuries, leading to increased brain-cell death and coordination problems.
Researchers identify nonsignaling glial cells as a guiding scaffold for synapse formation in the developing brain. The discovery sheds light on neural network formation and may hold clues to understanding disorders like autism.
Researchers have discovered that reactive glial cells in injured brains can differentiate into new nerve cells through the activation of neural stem cells. This finding has significant implications for the development of therapies for brain injuries.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, have identified a protein called LRP1 that may help ease neuropathic pain by blocking the response of glial cells. The study found that administering LRP1 into injured peripheral nerves decreased the level and activity of proinflammatory cytokines, leading to reduced pain.
Researchers at Tufts University have identified a specific population of glial cells required for controlling circadian behavior in Drosophila, suggesting an autonomous glial mechanism drives circadian rhythms. The study's findings have broad implications for understanding diseases affected by altered biological timing mechanisms.
Researchers have identified Müller glial cells with stem cell properties that can regenerate the retina and restore vision in zebrafish. The team hopes to develop this approach for human use, potentially using a person's own cells to stimulate growth and repair.
Researchers found a pair of proteins that facilitate communication between axons and glial cells, initiating myelination. Understanding this process may lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like MS.
Researchers at University of Illinois Chicago discovered that receptor numbers on nerve cells are controlled by brain's level of glutamate, a previously ignored neurotransmitter. This finding has implications for understanding perception, learning, and behavior, including homosexuality.
Researchers discovered a decrease in neuron density in the orbitofrontal cortex among alcoholics, which may lead to decision-making and emotional behavioral issues. The findings suggest that continued alcohol abuse results in irreversible neuronal loss, emphasizing the importance of stopping alcohol consumption.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new compound that selectively inhibits pro-inflammatory proteins called cytokines by glia, slowing or reversing neuroinflammatory cascade progression. The compound also restored normal synaptic function and attenuated Alzheimer's-like behavioral deficits in mice.
Researchers have identified two proteins found in the Neurofascin gene that link glial ensheathment of nerve fibers to node formation. This breakthrough discovery may help find ways to improve nerve conduction in patients with conditions like MS.
A team of researchers, including Brandeis University, is studying the role of glial cells in individual synapses and neural networks. The project aims to deepen understanding of glial cell function and its potential impact on diseases originating from malfunctioning glial cells.
Researchers have discovered that glial cells in roundworms play a crucial role in forming tubes around neurons, similar to myelination in the human brain. This process is essential for neuron function and is also similar to the process of myelination, which is critical for healthy nerve impulses.
Researchers discovered two proteins, thrombospondins, that encourage new synapses to form in the brain. This study could help understand diseases like epilepsy and addiction where too many synapses form, and may lead to new treatments for recovering addicts.
Researchers have discovered that glial cells play a previously unidentified role in regulating the development of sensory hair cell precursors in zebrafish. This finding increases understanding of nerve cell development and may lead to potential regenerative therapies for human hearing disorders.
Researchers have discovered cellular changes in animal retinas that occur in human retinal detachments, implying experimental therapies could be effective. Oxygen therapy has been shown to reduce cellular damage and improve outcomes in animals, and further studies suggest it may also benefit humans.
Researchers have discovered new approaches to treating ALS using genetic techniques and growth factors. A study found that implanting cells to support motor neurons can help stave off the disease, while another team used RNA interference to silence a toxic mutant gene. VEGF was also shown to rescue motor neurons attacked by ALS.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are examining the effects of institutional care on brain-behavior relations. The study found that institutionalized children lagged behind those living with their families in cognitive, language abilities, behavioral adjustment, and neurophysiological indicators.
Researchers propose that schizophrenia may be triggered by an interaction between genes and viruses in glial cells, which can disrupt brain cell connections. This new hypothesis combines previous theories on the disease's causes, offering a potential explanation for its development.
A Stanford team has discovered a permanent signal that controls the growth of axons in neurons, which can lead to paralysis. This finding suggests that age is not the key to an axon's inability to regenerate, but rather an outside signal from retinal cells.
A team of researchers has identified the entire series of proteins that relay a message of survival from a neuron to a glial cell in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, shedding light on how cells 'know' whether to survive or perish. This discovery may lead to novel treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.
Recent studies suggest that modulating glial inflammation may be an effective approach to delaying onset or slowing progression of neurodegeneration. New compounds described in a study selectively block production of IL-1B, iNOS and NO by activated glia without diminishing the production of other glial proteins.
A study published in Science found no new neurons in the neocortex of adult monkeys, contradicting previous reports. Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to analyze thousands of cells and conclude that mechanisms other than neurogenesis may be needed to understand brain function.
Brain researchers find that glial cells produce surplus cholesterol to support nerve cell growth and synapse formation. The discovery sheds new light on an often-disdained molecule and offers perspectives for neurobiological research and potential strategies to cure brain lesions.
Research finds that people with inherited depression have fewer glia cells in the brain's subgenual prefrontal cortex, a region involved in stress responses. This difference is not seen in those without a family history of depression.