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Microglia and astrocyte function and communication: what do we know in humans?

Microglia and astrocyte function and communication: what do we know in humans?
Microglia and astrocyte function and communication: what do we know in humans?

Microglia and astrocytes play essential roles in the central nervous system contributing to many functions including homeostasis, immune response, blood–brain barrier maintenance and synaptic support. Evidence has emerged from experimental models of glial communication that microglia and astrocytes influence and coordinate each other and their effects on the brain environment. However, due to the difference in glial cells between humans and rodents, it is essential to confirm the relevance of these findings in human brains. Here, we aim to review the current knowledge on microglia-astrocyte crosstalk in humans, exploring novel methodological techniques used in health and disease conditions. This will include an in-depth look at cell culture and iPSCs, post-mortem studies, imaging and fluid biomarkers, genetics and transcriptomic data. In this review, we will discuss the advantages and limitations of these methods, highlighting the understanding these methods have brought the field on these cells communicative abilities, and the knowledge gaps that remain.

Alzheimer’s disease, astrocytes, biomarkers, genetics, human, microglia, neuroinflmamation
1662-4548
Garland, Emma F.
b59c66f2-ac4c-4d8d-823d-687769deccce
Hartnell, Iain J.
46e8c0a1-f5cc-42f9-bc01-911e2dbf4cce
Boche, Delphine
bdcca10e-6302-4dd0-919f-67218f7e0d61
Garland, Emma F.
b59c66f2-ac4c-4d8d-823d-687769deccce
Hartnell, Iain J.
46e8c0a1-f5cc-42f9-bc01-911e2dbf4cce
Boche, Delphine
bdcca10e-6302-4dd0-919f-67218f7e0d61

Garland, Emma F., Hartnell, Iain J. and Boche, Delphine (2022) Microglia and astrocyte function and communication: what do we know in humans? Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, [824888]. (doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.824888).

Record type: Review

Abstract

Microglia and astrocytes play essential roles in the central nervous system contributing to many functions including homeostasis, immune response, blood–brain barrier maintenance and synaptic support. Evidence has emerged from experimental models of glial communication that microglia and astrocytes influence and coordinate each other and their effects on the brain environment. However, due to the difference in glial cells between humans and rodents, it is essential to confirm the relevance of these findings in human brains. Here, we aim to review the current knowledge on microglia-astrocyte crosstalk in humans, exploring novel methodological techniques used in health and disease conditions. This will include an in-depth look at cell culture and iPSCs, post-mortem studies, imaging and fluid biomarkers, genetics and transcriptomic data. In this review, we will discuss the advantages and limitations of these methods, highlighting the understanding these methods have brought the field on these cells communicative abilities, and the knowledge gaps that remain.

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Accepted/In Press date: 24 January 2022
Published date: 16 February 2022
Additional Information: Funding Information: EG and IH were supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK-Ph.D.2019-016 and ARUK-PG2018A-012, respectively). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Garland, Hartnell and Boche.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, astrocytes, biomarkers, genetics, human, microglia, neuroinflmamation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 454754
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454754
ISSN: 1662-4548
PURE UUID: 681a0ee3-5412-49ab-9e86-642984f3fd6f
ORCID for Emma F. Garland: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8501-4326
ORCID for Delphine Boche: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5884-130X

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 22 Feb 2022 17:41
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:05

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Contributors

Author: Emma F. Garland ORCID iD
Author: Iain J. Hartnell
Author: Delphine Boche ORCID iD

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