Astrocyte Signaling and Multiple Sclerosis

作者：D' haeseleer Miguel; Cambron Melissa; De Keyser Jacques^*

来源：Current Signal Transduction Therapy, 2012, 7(1): 14-19.

DOI：10.2174/157436212799278133

• Multiple sclerosis
• astrocytes
• beta(2)-adrenergic receptors
• cAMP
• demyelination
• axonal degeneration

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by demyelinating lesions disseminated throughout the central nervous system, and a progressive axonal degeneration. In this review we propose that an impaired cAMP signaling in white mater astrocytes, caused by a deficiency of beta(2)-adrenergic receptors, may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Reduced astrocytic cAMP signaling may, in a proinflammatory environment, facilitate astrocytes to become facultative antigen presenting cells, stimulating the development of inflammatory demyelinating lesions. It may reduce astrocytic glycogenolysis, which supplies energy and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to axons and oligodendrocytes, reduce trophic and neuroprotective support to oligodendrocytes and neurons, and enhance astrogliosis.

• 出版日期2012-1