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Kim JH, Afridi R, Jang IS, Lee MG, Suk K. Regulation of sleep by astrocytes in the hypothalamic ventrolateral preoptic nucleus. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:1098-1100. [PMID: 38989949 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-24-00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Hong Kim
- Brain Korea 21 four KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Kim JH, Afridi R, Suk K)
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Kim JH, Afridi R, Lee MG, Suk K)
| | - Ruqayya Afridi
- Brain Korea 21 four KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Kim JH, Afridi R, Suk K)
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Kim JH, Afridi R, Lee MG, Suk K)
| | - Il-Sung Jang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Jang IS)
- Brain Science & Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Jang IS, Lee MG, Suk K)
| | - Maan Gee Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Kim JH, Afridi R, Lee MG, Suk K)
- Brain Science & Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Jang IS, Lee MG, Suk K)
| | - Kyoungho Suk
- Brain Korea 21 four KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Kim JH, Afridi R, Suk K)
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Kim JH, Afridi R, Lee MG, Suk K)
- Brain Science & Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea (Jang IS, Lee MG, Suk K)
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2
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Untiet V, Nedergaard M, Verkhratsky A. Astrocyte chloride, excitatory-inhibitory balance and epilepsy. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1887. [PMID: 38227511 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Verena Untiet
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maiken Nedergaard
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
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3
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Chandra S, Vassar R. The role of the gut microbiome in the regulation of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease. Neurotherapeutics 2024:e00425. [PMID: 39054180 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and is the most common cause of dementia. AD is characterized pathologically by proteinaceous aggregates composed of amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau as well as progressive neurodegeneration. Concurrently with the buildup of protein aggregates, a strong neuroinflammatory response, in the form of reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis, occurs in the AD brain. It has recently been shown that the gut microbiome (GMB), composed of trillions of bacteria in the human intestine, can regulate both reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis in the context of both amyloidosis and tauopathy. Many studies have implicated microglia in these processes. However, growing evidence suggests that interactions between the GMB and astrocytes have a much larger role than previously thought. In this review, we summarize evidence regarding the gut microbiome in the control of reactive astrocytosis in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidhanth Chandra
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Robert Vassar
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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4
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Verkhratsky A, Zorec R. Neuroglia in cognitive reserve. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02644-z. [PMID: 38956370 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02644-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The concept of cognitive reserve was born to account for the disjunction between the objective extent of brain damage in pathology and its clinical and intellectual outcome. The cognitive reserve comprises structural (brain reserve) and functional (brain maintenance, resilience, compensation) aspects of the nervous tissue reflecting exposome-driven life-long plasticity, which defines the ability of the brain to withstand aging and pathology. The mechanistic background of this concept was primarily focused on adaptive changes in neurones and neuronal networks. We present arguments favoring the more inclusive view, positing that neuroglia are fundamental for defining the cognitive reserve through homeostatic, neuroprotective, and neurodegenerative mechanisms. Neuroglia are critical for the life-long shaping of synaptically connected neuronal circuits as well as the brain connectome thus defining cognitive reserve. Neuroglial homeostatic and protective physiological responses define brain maintenance and resilience, while neuroglia regenerative capabilities are critical for brain compensation in pathology. Targeting neuroglia may represent an untrodden path for prolonging cognitive longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
- Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
- IKERBASQUE Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
- University of Ljubljana, Institute of Pathophysiology, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Molecular Cell Physiology, Zaloška cesta 4, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Celica, BIOMEDICAL, Technology Park 24, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Robert Zorec
- University of Ljubljana, Institute of Pathophysiology, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Molecular Cell Physiology, Zaloška cesta 4, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Celica, BIOMEDICAL, Technology Park 24, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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5
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Untiet V, Verkhratsky A. How astrocytic chloride modulates brain states. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2400004. [PMID: 38615322 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The way the central nervous system (CNS) responds to diverse stimuli is contingent upon the specific brain state of the individual, including sleep and wakefulness. Despite the wealth of readout parameters and data delineating the brain states, the primary mechanisms are yet to be identified. Here we highlight the role of astrocytes, with a specific emphasis on chloride (Cl-) homeostasis as a modulator of brain states. Neuronal activity is regulated by the concentration of ions that determine excitability. Astrocytes, as the CNS homeostatic cells, are recognised for their proficiency in maintaining dynamic homeostasis of ions, known as ionostasis. Nevertheless, the contribution of astrocyte-driven ionostasis to the genesis of brain states or their response to sleep-inducing pharmacological agents has been overlooked. Our objective is to underscore the significance of astrocytic Cl- homeostasis, elucidating how it may underlie the modulation of brain states. We endeavour to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between astrocytes and brain states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Untiet
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
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6
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Gau YTA, Hsu ET, Cha RJ, Pak RW, Looger LL, Kang JU, Bergles DE. Multicore fiber optic imaging reveals that astrocyte calcium activity in the mouse cerebral cortex is modulated by internal motivational state. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3039. [PMID: 38589390 PMCID: PMC11002016 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47345-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are a direct target of neuromodulators and can influence neuronal activity on broad spatial and temporal scales in response to a rise in cytosolic calcium. However, our knowledge about how astrocytes are recruited during different animal behaviors remains limited. To measure astrocyte activity calcium in vivo during normative behaviors, we utilize a high-resolution, long working distance multicore fiber optic imaging system that allows visualization of individual astrocyte calcium transients in the cerebral cortex of freely moving mice. We define the spatiotemporal dynamics of astrocyte calcium changes during diverse behaviors, ranging from sleep-wake cycles to the exploration of novel objects, showing that their activity is more variable and less synchronous than apparent in head-immobilized imaging conditions. In accordance with their molecular diversity, individual astrocytes often exhibit distinct thresholds and activity patterns during explorative behaviors, allowing temporal encoding across the astrocyte network. Astrocyte calcium events were induced by noradrenergic and cholinergic systems and modulated by internal state. The distinct activity patterns exhibited by astrocytes provides a means to vary their neuromodulatory influence in different behavioral contexts and internal states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Tian A Gau
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Eric T Hsu
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard J Cha
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca W Pak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Loren L Looger
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jin U Kang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Dwight E Bergles
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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7
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Verkhratsky A, Rose CR. Multiple ions control astroglial excitability, or "Nein, Kalzium, ist NICHT alles". Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14120. [PMID: 38391057 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- International Collaborative Centre on Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signalling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Christine R Rose
- Institute of Neurobiology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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8
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Beinlich FR, Asiminas A, Untiet V, Bojarowska Z, Plá V, Sigurdsson B, Timmel V, Gehrig L, Graber MH, Hirase H, Nedergaard M. Oxygen imaging of hypoxic pockets in the mouse cerebral cortex. Science 2024; 383:1471-1478. [PMID: 38547288 PMCID: PMC11251491 DOI: 10.1126/science.adn1011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Consciousness is lost within seconds upon cessation of cerebral blood flow. The brain cannot store oxygen, and interruption of oxidative phosphorylation is fatal within minutes. Yet only rudimentary knowledge exists regarding cortical partial oxygen tension (Po2) dynamics under physiological conditions. Here we introduce Green enhanced Nano-lantern (GeNL), a genetically encoded bioluminescent oxygen indicator for Po2 imaging. In awake behaving mice, we uncover the existence of spontaneous, spatially defined "hypoxic pockets" and demonstrate their linkage to the abrogation of local capillary flow. Exercise reduced the burden of hypoxic pockets by 52% compared with rest. The study provides insight into cortical oxygen dynamics in awake behaving animals and concurrently establishes a tool to delineate the importance of oxygen tension in physiological processes and neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix R.M. Beinlich
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antonios Asiminas
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Verena Untiet
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zuzanna Bojarowska
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Virginia Plá
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Björn Sigurdsson
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vincenzo Timmel
- School of Engineering, FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland; 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Gehrig
- School of Engineering, FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland; 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Michael H. Graber
- School of Engineering, FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland; 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Hajime Hirase
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center; Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Maiken Nedergaard
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center; Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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9
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Abstract
The brain is a complex organ, fundamentally changing across the day to perform basic functions like sleep, thought, and regulating whole-body physiology. This requires a complex symphony of nutrients, hormones, ions, neurotransmitters and more to be properly distributed across the brain to maintain homeostasis throughout 24 hours. These solutes are distributed both by the blood and by cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid contents are distinct from the general circulation because of regulation at brain barriers including the choroid plexus, glymphatic system, and blood-brain barrier. In this review, we discuss the overlapping circadian (≈24-hour) rhythms in brain fluid biology and at the brain barriers. Our goal is for the reader to gain both a fundamental understanding of brain barriers alongside an understanding of the interactions between these fluids and the circadian timing system. Ultimately, this review will provide new insight into how alterations in these finely tuned clocks may lead to pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Velia S Vizcarra
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Ryann M Fame
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Lauren M Hablitz
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
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10
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Li B, Yu W, Verkhratsky A. Trace metals and astrocytes physiology and pathophysiology. Cell Calcium 2024; 118:102843. [PMID: 38199057 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2024.102843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Several trace metals, including iron, copper, manganese and zinc are essential for normal function of the nervous system. Both deficiency and excessive accumulation of these metals trigger neuropathological developments. The central nervous system (CNS) is in possession of dedicated homeostatic system that removes, accumulates, stores and releases these metals to fulfil nervous tissue demand. This system is mainly associated with astrocytes that act as dynamic reservoirs for trace metals, these being a part of a global system of CNS ionostasis. Here we overview physiological and pathophysiological aspects of astrocyte-cantered trace metals regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoman Li
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, China
| | - Weiyang Yu
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, China
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Achucarro Center for Neuroscience, Ikerbasque, Bilbao 48011, Spain; Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius LT-01102, Lithuania.
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11
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Untiet V. Astrocytic chloride regulates brain function in health and disease. Cell Calcium 2024; 118:102855. [PMID: 38364706 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2024.102855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Chloride ions (Cl-) play a pivotal role in synaptic inhibition in the central nervous system, primarily mediated through ionotropic mechanisms. A recent breakthrough emphathizes the significant influence of astrocytic intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl-]i) regulation, a field still in its early stages of exploration. Typically, the [Cl-]i in most animal cells is maintained at lower levels than the extracellular chloride [Cl-]o, a critical balance to prevent cell swelling due to osmotic pressure. Various Cl- transporters are expressed differently across cell types, fine-tuning the [Cl-]i, while Cl- gradients are utilised by several families of Cl- channels. Although the passive distribution of ions within cells is governed by basic biophysical principles, astrocytes actively expend energy to sustain [Cl-]i at much higher levels than those achieved passively, and much higher than neuronal [Cl-]i. Beyond the role in volume regulation, astrocytic [Cl-]i is dynamically linked to brain states and influences neuronal signalling in actively behaving animals. As a vital component of brain function, astrocytic [Cl-]i also plays a role in the development of disorders where inhibitory transmission is disrupted. This review synthesises the latest insights into astrocytic [Cl-]i, elucidating its role in modulating brain function and its implications in various pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Untiet
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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12
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González-González MA, Conde SV, Latorre R, Thébault SC, Pratelli M, Spitzer NC, Verkhratsky A, Tremblay MÈ, Akcora CG, Hernández-Reynoso AG, Ecker M, Coates J, Vincent KL, Ma B. Bioelectronic Medicine: a multidisciplinary roadmap from biophysics to precision therapies. Front Integr Neurosci 2024; 18:1321872. [PMID: 38440417 PMCID: PMC10911101 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2024.1321872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioelectronic Medicine stands as an emerging field that rapidly evolves and offers distinctive clinical benefits, alongside unique challenges. It consists of the modulation of the nervous system by precise delivery of electrical current for the treatment of clinical conditions, such as post-stroke movement recovery or drug-resistant disorders. The unquestionable clinical impact of Bioelectronic Medicine is underscored by the successful translation to humans in the last decades, and the long list of preclinical studies. Given the emergency of accelerating the progress in new neuromodulation treatments (i.e., drug-resistant hypertension, autoimmune and degenerative diseases), collaboration between multiple fields is imperative. This work intends to foster multidisciplinary work and bring together different fields to provide the fundamental basis underlying Bioelectronic Medicine. In this review we will go from the biophysics of the cell membrane, which we consider the inner core of neuromodulation, to patient care. We will discuss the recently discovered mechanism of neurotransmission switching and how it will impact neuromodulation design, and we will provide an update on neuronal and glial basis in health and disease. The advances in biomedical technology have facilitated the collection of large amounts of data, thereby introducing new challenges in data analysis. We will discuss the current approaches and challenges in high throughput data analysis, encompassing big data, networks, artificial intelligence, and internet of things. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the electrochemical properties of neural interfaces, along with the integration of biocompatible and reliable materials and compliance with biomedical regulations for translational applications. Preclinical validation is foundational to the translational process, and we will discuss the critical aspects of such animal studies. Finally, we will focus on the patient point-of-care and challenges in neuromodulation as the ultimate goal of bioelectronic medicine. This review is a call to scientists from different fields to work together with a common endeavor: accelerate the decoding and modulation of the nervous system in a new era of therapeutic possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Alejandra González-González
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Silvia V. Conde
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ramon Latorre
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Stéphanie C. Thébault
- Laboratorio de Investigación Traslacional en salud visual (D-13), Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Marta Pratelli
- Neurobiology Department, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Nicholas C. Spitzer
- Neurobiology Department, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- International Collaborative Center on Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signaling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cuneyt G. Akcora
- Department of Computer Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | | | - Melanie Ecker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
| | | | - Kathleen L. Vincent
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Brandy Ma
- Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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13
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Rose CR, Verkhratsky A. Sodium homeostasis and signalling: The core and the hub of astrocyte function. Cell Calcium 2024; 117:102817. [PMID: 37979342 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2023.102817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal activity and neurochemical stimulation trigger spatio-temporal changes in the cytoplasmic concentration of Na+ ions in astrocytes. These changes constitute the substrate for Na+ signalling and are fundamental for astrocytic excitability. Astrocytic Na+ signals are generated by Na+ influx through neurotransmitter transporters, with primary contribution of glutamate transporters, and through cationic channels; whereas recovery from Na+ transients is mediated mainly by the plasmalemmal Na+/K+ ATPase. Astrocytic Na+ signals regulate the activity of plasmalemmal transporters critical for homeostatic function of astrocytes, thus providing real-time coordination between neuronal activity and astrocytic support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine R Rose
- Institute of Neurobiology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Alexej Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom; Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011 Bilbao, Spain; Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China; International Collaborative Center on Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signaling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China; Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-01102, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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14
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Nguyen TD, Ishibashi M, Sinha AS, Watanabe M, Kato D, Horiuchi H, Wake H, Fukuda A. Astrocytic NKCC1 inhibits seizures by buffering Cl - and antagonizing neuronal NKCC1 at GABAergic synapses. Epilepsia 2023; 64:3389-3403. [PMID: 37779224 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A pathological excitatory action of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been observed in epilepsy. Blocking the Cl- importer NKCC1 with bumetanide is expected to reduce the neuronal intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl- ]i ) and thereby attenuate the excitatory GABA response. Accordingly, several clinical trials of bumetanide for epilepsy were conducted. Although NKCC1 is expressed in both neurons and glial cells, an involvement of glial NKCC1 in seizures has not yet been reported. Astrocytes maintain high [Cl- ]i with NKCC1, and this gradient promotes Cl- efflux via the astrocytic GABAA receptor (GABAA R). This Cl- efflux buffers the synaptic cleft Cl- concentration to maintain the postsynaptic Cl- gradient during intense firing of GABAergic neurons, thereby sustaining its inhibitory action during seizure. In this study, we investigated the function of astrocytic NKCC1 in modulating the postsynaptic action of GABA in acute seizure models. METHODS We used the astrocyte-specific conditional NKCC1 knockout (AstroNKCC1KO) mice. The seizurelike events (SLEs) in CA1 pyramidal neurons were triggered by tetanic stimulation of stratum radiatum in acute hippocampus slices. The SLE underlying GABAA R-mediated depolarization was evaluated by applying the GABAA R antagonist bicuculline. The pilocarpine-induced seizure in vivo was monitored in adult mice by the Racine scale. The SLE duration and tetanus stimulation intensity threshold and seizure behavior in AstroNKCC1KO mice and wild-type (WT) mice were compared. RESULTS The AstroNKCC1KO mice were prone to seizures with lower threshold and longer duration of SLEs and larger GABAA R-mediated depolarization underlying the SLEs, accompanied by higher Racine-scored seizures. Bumetanide reduced these indicators of seizure in AstroNKCC1KO mice (which still express neuronal NKCC1), but not in the WT, both in vitro and in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE Astrocytic NKCC1 inhibits GABA-mediated excitatory action during seizures, whereas neuronal NKCC1 has the converse effect, suggesting opposing actions of bumetanide on these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trong Dao Nguyen
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Masaru Ishibashi
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Adya Saran Sinha
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Miho Watanabe
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kato
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Cell Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Horiuchi
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Cell Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Wake
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Cell Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Atsuo Fukuda
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
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15
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Postnov D, Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya O, Litvinenko E, Kurths J, Penzel T. Mechanisms of Activation of Brain's Drainage during Sleep: The Nightlife of Astrocytes. Cells 2023; 12:2667. [PMID: 37998402 PMCID: PMC10670149 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of functions, mechanisms of generation, and pathways of movement of cerebral fluids has a long history, but the last decade has been especially productive. The proposed glymphatic hypothesis, which suggests a mechanism of the brain waste removal system (BWRS), caused an active discussion on both the criticism of some of the perspectives and our intensive study of new experimental facts. It was especially found that the intensity of the metabolite clearance changes significantly during the transition between sleep and wakefulness. Interestingly, at the cellular level, a number of aspects of this problem have been focused on, such as astrocytes-glial cells, which, over the past two decades, have been recognized as equal partners of neurons and perform many important functions. In particular, an important role was assigned to astrocytes within the framework of the glymphatic hypothesis. In this review, we return to the "astrocytocentric" view of the BWRS function and the explanation of its activation during sleep from the viewpoint of new findings over the last decade. Our main conclusion is that the BWRS's action may be analyzed both at the systemic (whole-brain) and at the local (cellular) level. The local level means here that the neuro-glial-vascular unit can also be regarded as the smallest functional unit of sleep, and therefore, the smallest functional unit of the BWRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Postnov
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia;
| | - Oxana Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Elena Litvinenko
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia;
| | - Jürgen Kurths
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Thomas Penzel
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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16
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Verkhratsky A, Butt A, Li B, Illes P, Zorec R, Semyanov A, Tang Y, Sofroniew MV. Astrocytes in human central nervous system diseases: a frontier for new therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:396. [PMID: 37828019 PMCID: PMC10570367 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01628-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroglia are a broad class of neural parenchymal cells primarily dedicated to homoeostasis and defence of the central nervous system (CNS). Astroglia contribute to the pathophysiology of all neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders in ways that can be either beneficial or detrimental to disorder outcome. Pathophysiological changes in astroglia can be primary or secondary and can result in gain or loss of functions. Astroglia respond to external, non-cell autonomous signals associated with any form of CNS pathology by undergoing complex and variable changes in their structure, molecular expression, and function. In addition, internally driven, cell autonomous changes of astroglial innate properties can lead to CNS pathologies. Astroglial pathophysiology is complex, with different pathophysiological cell states and cell phenotypes that are context-specific and vary with disorder, disorder-stage, comorbidities, age, and sex. Here, we classify astroglial pathophysiology into (i) reactive astrogliosis, (ii) astroglial atrophy with loss of function, (iii) astroglial degeneration and death, and (iv) astrocytopathies characterised by aberrant forms that drive disease. We review astroglial pathophysiology across the spectrum of human CNS diseases and disorders, including neurotrauma, stroke, neuroinfection, autoimmune attack and epilepsy, as well as neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, metabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Characterising cellular and molecular mechanisms of astroglial pathophysiology represents a new frontier to identify novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Verkhratsky
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-01102, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Arthur Butt
- Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Baoman Li
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Peter Illes
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Rudolf Boehm Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert Zorec
- Celica Biomedical, Lab Cell Engineering, Technology Park, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology-Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alexey Semyanov
- Department of Physiology, Jiaxing University College of Medicine, 314033, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yong Tang
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture for Senile Disease (Chengdu University of TCM), Ministry of Education/Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China.
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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17
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Brazhe A, Verisokin A, Verveyko D, Postnov D. Astrocytes: new evidence, new models, new roles. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:1303-1333. [PMID: 37975000 PMCID: PMC10643736 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01145-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes have been in the limelight of active research for about 3 decades now. Over this period, ideas about their function and role in the nervous system have evolved from simple assistance in energy supply and homeostasis maintenance to a complex informational and metabolic hub that integrates data on local neuronal activity, sensory and arousal context, and orchestrates many crucial processes in the brain. Rapid progress in experimental techniques and data analysis produces a growing body of data, which can be used as a foundation for formulation of new hypotheses, building new refined mathematical models, and ultimately should lead to a new level of understanding of the contribution of astrocytes to the cognitive tasks performed by the brain. Here, we highlight recent progress in astrocyte research, which we believe expands our understanding of how low-level signaling at a cellular level builds up to processes at the level of the whole brain and animal behavior. We start our review with revisiting data on the role of noradrenaline-mediated astrocytic signaling in locomotion, arousal, sensory integration, memory, and sleep. We then briefly review astrocyte contribution to the regulation of cerebral blood flow regulation, which is followed by a discussion of biophysical mechanisms underlying astrocyte effects on different brain processes. The experimental section is closed by an overview of recent experimental techniques available for modulation and visualization of astrocyte dynamics. We then evaluate how the new data can be potentially incorporated into the new mathematical models or where and how it already has been done. Finally, we discuss an interesting prospect that astrocytes may be key players in important processes such as the switching between sleep and wakefulness and the removal of toxic metabolites from the brain milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Brazhe
- Department of Biophysics, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1/24, Moscow, 119234 Russia
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, GSP-7, Miklukho-Maklay Str., 16/10, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - Andrey Verisokin
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Kursk State University, Radishcheva st., 33, Kursk, 305000 Russia
| | - Darya Verveyko
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Kursk State University, Radishcheva st., 33, Kursk, 305000 Russia
| | - Dmitry Postnov
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya st., 83, Saratov, 410012 Russia
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18
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Koh W, Kwak H, Cheong E, Lee CJ. GABA tone regulation and its cognitive functions in the brain. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:523-539. [PMID: 37495761 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00724-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter released at GABAergic synapses, mediating fast-acting phasic inhibition. Emerging lines of evidence unequivocally indicate that a small amount of extracellular GABA - GABA tone - exists in the brain and induces a tonic GABA current that controls neuronal activity on a slow timescale relative to that of phasic inhibition. Surprisingly, studies indicate that glial cells that synthesize GABA, such as astrocytes, release GABA through non-vesicular mechanisms, such as channel-mediated release, and thereby act as the source of GABA tone in the brain. In this Review, we first provide an overview of major advances in our understanding of the cell-specific molecular and cellular mechanisms of GABA synthesis, release and clearance that regulate GABA tone in various brain regions. We next examine the diverse ways in which the tonic GABA current regulates synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity through extrasynaptic GABAA-receptor-mediated mechanisms. Last, we discuss the physiological mechanisms through which tonic inhibition modulates cognitive function on a slow timescale. In this Review, we emphasize that the cognitive functions of tonic GABA current extend beyond mere inhibition, laying a foundation for future research on the physiological and pathophysiological roles of GABA tone regulation in normal and abnormal psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuhyun Koh
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hankyul Kwak
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eunji Cheong
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - C Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea.
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