TY  - JOUR
AU  - TOLEDANO-DÍAZ, ADOLFO
AU  - ALVAREZ, MARIA ISABEL
AU  - TOLEDANO, ADOLFO
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/05/09
TI  - Glial Alterations in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Novel Basis to Understand, Prevent and Treat the Degenerative Process
JO  - OBM Geriatrics
SP  - 117
VL  - 04
IS  - 02
AB  - Neurons, from the time of their birth until their death, are always accompanied by neuroglial cells, maintaining very close morphological and functional relationships among themselves. Classically three main neuroglial families have been considered within the central nervous system (CNS): astroglia, oligodendroglia, and microglia. However, using morphological and immuno-cytochemical criteria, several different types/subtypes of neuroglial cells have been identified, each exerting specific physiological and pathological effects on the neurons. The neuron–neuroglial relationships are quite complex (glio-glial, glio-neuronal, and neuro-glial cell signaling, including glio-transmission), and all these routes of cell communication are essential for supporting brain function. Subtle morpho-functional changes resulting from glial cell plasticity occur in parallel to the plastic neuronal changes that serve to optimize the functionality of neurons and neuronal circuits. Moreover, all the different types/subtypes of neuroglia may adopt a reactive status, referred to as “gliosis”, in which novel actions are performed. These latter morpho-functional changes are difficult to understand as they involve both neuroprotection/neuro-repair and neurodegeneration. Diverse and profound regional and local neuroglial changes occur in all the involutive processes [physiological and pathological aging or neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer´s disease (AD)], although the exact implications of these spatiotemporal modifications for the different neuroglial types are not sufficiently well understood. Owing to all these features, neuroglial cells become elements of paramount importance when attempting to elucidate any physiological or pathological processes occurring in the CNS. Furthermore, in recent years, potential therapeutic interventions capable of positively modifying the responses of neuroglial cells have been proposed to prevent and/or treat degenerative CNS conditions. In the present review, the different neuroglial cells and their responses are discussed in order to understand their possible role in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment (preventive or palliative) of involutive CNS processes. In addition, the existence of differentiated and/or concurrent pathogenic and neuro-protective/neuro-restorative astroglial and microglial responses is addressed.
SN  - 2638-1311
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002117
DO  - 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002117
ID  - TOLEDANO-DÍAZ2020
ER  -