Directed glial differentiation and transdifferentiation for neural tissue regeneration.

Directed glial differentiation and transdifferentiation for neural tissue regeneration.
Exp Neurol. 2018 Aug 29;:
Authors: Justyna J, Justyna G, Malgorzata ZN, Teresa Z, Leonora B, Joanna S
Abstract
Glial cells which are indispensable for the central nervous system development and functioning, are proven to be vulnerable to a harmful influence of pathological cues and tissue misbalance. However, they are also highly sensitive to both in vitro and in vivo modulation of their commitment, differentiation, activity and even the fate-switch by different types of bioactive molecules. Since glial cells (comprising macroglia and microglia) are an abundant and heterogeneous population of neural cells, which are almost uniformly distributed in the brain and the spinal cord parenchyma, they all create a natural endogenous reservoir of cells for potential neurogenerative processes required to be initiated in response to pathophysiological cues present in the local tissue microenvironment. The past decade of intensive investigation on a spontaneous and enforced conversion of glial fate into either alternative glial (for instance from oligodendrocytes to astrocytes) or neuronal phenotypes, has considerably extended our appreciation of glial involvement in restoring the nervous tissue cytoarchitecture and its proper functions. The most effective modulators of reprogramming processes have been identified and tested in a series of pre-clinical experi...

Source: Experimental Neurology - August 29, 2018 Category: Neurology Authors: Justyna J, Justyna G, Malgorzata ZN, Teresa Z, Leonora B, Joanna S Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research