A new system to regenerate neurons, hope against potential Alzheimer's disease or stroke. Researchers funded in part converted the glial cells of the brain in two different functional classes of neurons.
Their findings, published in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Biology , could result in major progress in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The study was partly funded by the project EUTRACC ('European transcriptome, and cellular commitment regulome Consortium), which is supported with € 12 million under the thematic area' Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health ' the Sixth Framework Programme.
glial cells (or glia), commonly known as the glue of the nervous system, surround the neurons responsible for transmitting information. Glial cells provide nutrients and oxygen to neurons, and isolate them from each other. Also protect them from pathogens and remove dead neurons.
This new study focused on astroglia (star-shaped glial cells), one of the most common types of glial cells. The astroglia have different projections that form the scaffold of support for neurons. They are also closely related to radial glial cells. During embryonic development of the brain, these radial glial cells transform into neurons or or serve as a scaffold on which to perform the migration of newborn neurons.
While astroglia do not normally have the potential to generate neurons, the research group of Prof. Dr. Magdalena Gotz and Benedikt Berninger, the Helmholtz Centre of Monaco of Bavaria, Germany, has managed to provoke their conversion into two main classes of cortical neurons. More specifically, the astroglia were converted into excitatory and inhibitory neurons that excite or inhibit the action of the target cell.
These results were achieved by selective expression of specific transcription factors or proteins that bind to specific sequences of DNA and thus control the transfer of genetic information.
"In this study we were able to reprogram the newly generated neurons, enabling them to develop functional synapses. This issue - depending on the transcription factor used - excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitter substances, "says the study's lead author, Dr. Christophe Heinrichs of the Ludwig Maximilians Universitat (LMU) of Monaco of Bavaria (Germany).
"Our findings raise the prospect that the barrier separating the neuronal cells and astroglia - closely related to each other - is not insurmountable," adds Dr. Berninger.
0 comments:
Post a Comment