小胶质细胞在癫痫中作用的研究进展

正癫痫是神经元突发、异常、过度、同步放电引发的一种发作性脑功能障碍。癫痫发病机制十分复杂。研究发现神经炎症、氧化应激、免疫失调、神经元凋亡、自噬等因素,在癫痫发病过程中发挥重要作用。小胶质细胞是中枢神经系统的免疫效应细胞,参与将神经炎症、氧化应激、神经元凋亡、免疫调节等。本文就小胶质细胞在癫痫中的作用进行综述。1小胶质细胞的概述1.1小胶质细胞的类型与功能小胶质细胞外形和蛋白表达存在差异,不同条件激活的类型和功能状态也有差异[1]。小胶质细胞处于静息状态时体积较小,呈梭状,有树枝状分支;激活后,细胞体积变大,     

小胶质细胞在中枢神经系统创伤后的双重作用及调控机制

小胶质细胞是中枢神经系统的固有免疫细胞,在脑或脊髓创伤后的神经炎症反应中起关键作用。神经系统损伤后小胶质细胞可提供神经保护因子,清除细胞碎片并调控神经修补过程。而另一方面,小胶质细胞会产生高水平的促炎及细胞毒性介质从而阻碍CNS修复,促使神经元失能及细胞死亡。小胶质细胞的双重特性可能与其损伤后的表型及功能反应有关。本综述探讨近年来有关脑和脊髓损伤后小胶质细胞活化表型的研究,以及小胶质细胞在神经元、血管、少突胶质细胞生长及再生中的可能发挥的作用。并简述已知的调控表型转换的分子机制,着重探讨可以影响小胶质细胞活化状态的治疗途径。了解小胶质细胞表型调控机制有助于我们增加神经系统损伤恢复的知识,并提供新的治疗策略。     

炎症状态下小胶质细胞引起的脑微循环障碍及其致病作用的研究进展

小胶质细胞是中枢神经系统的主要免疫细胞, 也是神经血管单元(NVU)的重要组成部分, 与内皮细胞、周细胞、血管平滑肌细胞、星形胶质细胞、神经元共同构成NVU, 在维持血脑屏障(BBB)完整性、调节脑血流量(CBF)和维持脑基本功能上有重要作用。由小胶质细胞介导的神经炎症会导致脑循环障碍, 与多种神经系统疾病的发生发展有关。本文围绕小胶质细胞的特性、亚型, 与脑微炎症及脑微循环的关系, 以及中枢神经系统疾病的相关性进行综述。     

星形胶质细胞与癫痫

星形胶质细胞是中枢神经系统的主要支持成分,参与多种生理、病理功能。星形胶质细胞具有对各种神经损害产生强烈反应的特性。在病理条件下,星形胶质细胞内多种细胞因子表达增加．对疾病的神经损害具有重要影响。近年来,星形胶质细胞在癫痫发生、发展中的作用日益受到重视。１星形胶质细胞解剖、生理星形胶质细胞起源于外胚层,分布于中枢神经系统的各个部分。星形胶质细胞发出突起附着在毛细血管壁上或脑和脊髓表面形成胶质界膜,将中枢神经系统与中胚层组织分开。在中枢神经系统内部,胶质细胞充填于神经元胞体及其突起之间,并将突触结…     

AQP4、KCNJ10基因与癫痫的关联性研究进展

<正>癫痫是神经系统第二大类疾病,其发作是由于中枢神经系统"兴奋"和"抑制"两者之间的不平衡而引起的神经元的异常活动。研究者们逐渐发现,脑内神经细胞的兴奋与抑制的失衡,主要与离子通道功能障碍以及神经递质的改变有关。近年来人们对其发病机制的认识已由器官、组织水平逐渐深入到细胞和分子水平。除神经元之外,星形胶质细胞和小胶质细胞也参与了癫痫的发生与发展。众所周知脑内细     

髓样细胞触发受体2调控小胶质细胞功能及参与阿尔茨海默病发病机制的研究进展

阿尔茨海默病(AD)是一种以细胞外β淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)沉积形成的淀粉样斑块、细胞内过度磷酸化tau蛋白形成的纤维缠结及神经炎症为特征性病理表现的神经退行性病变。近年来研究发现,髓样细胞触发受体2(TREM2)基因突变显著增加阿尔茨海默病的发病风险。TREM2在中枢神经系统(CNS)中仅表达于小胶质细胞,小胶质细胞作为CNS中最主要的一道免疫防线,吞噬中枢神经系统特异性碎片及Aβ和tau等异常聚集蛋白,还可调节可溶性炎症介质的释放,以应对中枢神经系统损伤。本文对小胶质细胞TREM2在AD中的作用进行综述。     

中枢神经系统小胶质细胞的研究进展

中枢神经系统(CNS)中的小胶质细胞源于造血系统,是CNS的胶质细胞,又有着单核吞噬细胞的属性。在正常情况下,它对周围神经组织起着连续监视作用以维持CNS的稳态,小胶质细胞微小的异常也会引起机体的功能障碍;而当疾病或损伤发生时,失去了神经元的抑制作用,活化后的小胶质细胞作为CNS中的定植炎症细胞参与炎症反应与免疫应答。     

小胶质细胞激活介导非特异性炎症在血管性认知障碍白质脱髓鞘损伤机制中的研究进展

小胶质细胞作为中枢神经系统免疫监视的主要细胞, 在脑组织急慢性缺血性损伤中可通 过介导炎症及氧化应激反应释放多种具有神经毒性的产物, 进一步引起神经元和其他胶质细胞的 死亡。 血管性认知障碍作为脑组织慢性缺血性损伤导致的一种以磁共振成像下脑白质脱髓鞘为特征 的疾病, 缺血性非特异炎症在其白质损伤中的作用机制愈发得到重视。 本文对有关脑组织缺血引起 小胶质细胞激活所介导非特异性炎症进而造成脑白质脱髓鞘损伤的机制相关研究做一综述, 以期 能够为进一步的相关机制研究提供参考和帮助。     

星形胶质细胞激活与创伤性颅脑损伤研究进展

神经胶质细胞作为中枢神经系统中分布最为广泛的一类细胞,对神经元具有支持、保护、营养、形成髓鞘和修复等多种功能。星形胶质细胞作为神经胶质细胞中的一种,已有大量研究证实其在创伤性脑损伤和神经退行性病变中具有重要作用。文中结合相关文献综述介绍创伤性颅脑损伤后星形胶质细胞激活的病理过程及其中潜在的细胞及分子机制     

小胶质细胞在酒精依赖中的研究进展

近年来,神经炎症在成瘾行为中的细胞和分子机制逐渐凸显,酒精滥用直接或间接与神 经免疫系统相互作用,产生中枢免疫信号,改变神经免疫基因表达和信号转导,进而导致成瘾。小胶质 细胞是中枢神经系统（CNS）中神经免疫应答和炎症的主要调节剂,现回顾有关长期酒精暴露与小胶质 细胞激活的研究,突出小胶质细胞在CNS 酒精反应中起到的关键监管作用,对于开发更好的治疗酒精 依赖的方案至关重要。     

Neuroimaging in epilepsy in tropics

Epilepsy is a major public health problem in many tropical countries. Also, some of the tropical diseases are major contributors to the higher prevalence of epilepsy in these countries. The etiologic factors responsible for epilepsy in these countries are quite different from those in the developed world. This article discusses the etiologic factors and neuroimaging of epilepsy in light of the conditions in these tropical countries.     

癫痫与抑郁关系的研究进展

抑郁是癫痫患者中常见的精神障碍,严重地影响了患者的生活质量。传统的观点认为癫痫患者因为存在着诸多社会学问题易出现抑郁倾向,癫痫和抑郁是单向的联系,但大量的研究已经证明癫痫和抑郁之间存在双向的联系,一种异常状态的存在可能易转化为另一种异常状态的发展。癫痫和抑郁存在着共同的发病机制。本文主要就癫痫和抑郁的双向联系以及抗抑郁药物在癫痫患者中的应用进行阐述。     

Sudanophilic lipid accumulation in astrocytes in periventricular leukomalacia in monkeys

Summary Sudanophilic lipid accumulation is a characteristic feature of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) of infants. At least two types of lipid-containing cells have been identified, one being the macrophage, the other the pre-myelin glial cell. A third type of lipid-containing cell has been seen in two monkeys with spontaneous PVL. Electron microscopically this cell appears to be an astrocyte. This probably represents a reaction of the astrocyte to hypoxia and may be the equivalent of the hypertrophic astrocytes found in human infants.Supported in part by NIH grant HDO 8633 and the Regional Primate Research Center Grant RR-00166     

Increase in cathepsin D activity in rat brain in aging

Cathepsin D-like activity in homogenates of five brain areas of 3-month-old and 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats was measured. With hemoglobin as substrate at pH 3.2, more than 90% of the activity was inhibited by pepstatin. In each area studied, activity was more than twice as high in the old rat brain: 140-160% higher in the cortex, cerebellum, pons-medulla, and striatum and 90-100% higher in the hippocampus and spinal cord. The greatly increased metabolic capacity in the absence of an increase in protein turnover may have a role in age-related pathological degeneration in the brain.     

Characteristics of nociceptors in the periodontium--an in vitro study in rats

Recent studies have indicated that nociceptors can be classified into various types according to their physiological properties. These studies have clarified that the frequency distribution of various nociceptor types is different among body sites and animal species. In the present study, we investigated the physiological properties of rat's periodontal nociceptors in an in vitro jaw-nerve preparation. Responses were recorded from functional single filaments in the inferior alveolar nerve. To determine the nociceptor type, calibrated von Frey filaments, heat, and bradykinin (BK) stimuli were used. We found five subtypes of nociceptors in the periodontal ligaments of the lower incisor: Adelta-high threshold mechanonociceptors (Adelta-HTM, n=28), Adelta-mechanoheat nociceptors (Adelta-MH, n=6), Adelta-polymodal nociceptors (Adelta-POLY, n=26), C-high threshold mechanonociceptors (C-HTM, n=3) and C-polymodal nociceptors (C-POLY, n=4). Most nociceptors were Adelta-innervated, while only a small number of C-innervated nociceptors were found. The present results suggest that periodontal nociceptors transmit mainly fast pain, and may thus play a role in rapid detection of injure-related stimuli during mastication.     

Gender in Voice Perception in Autism

Deficits in the perception of social stimuli may contribute to the characteristic impairments in social interaction in high functioning autism (HFA). Although the cortical processing of voice is abnormal in HFA, it is unclear whether this gives rise to impairments in the perception of voice gender. About 20 children with HFA and 20 matched controls were presented with voice fragments that were parametrically morphed in gender. No differences were found in the perception of gender between the two groups of participants, but response times differed significantly. The results suggest that the perception of voice gender is not impaired in HFA, which is consistent with behavioral findings of an unimpaired voice-based identification of age and identity by individuals with autism. The differences in response times suggest that individuals with HFA use different perceptual approaches from those used by typically developing individuals.     

Defects in Bioenergetic Coupling in Schizophrenia

Synaptic neurotransmission relies on maintenance of the synapse and meeting the energy demands of neurons. Defects in excitatory and inhibitory synapses have been implicated in schizophrenia, likely contributing to positive and negative symptoms as well as impaired cognition. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that bioenergetic systems, important in both synaptic function and cognition, are abnormal in psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. Animal models of synaptic dysfunction demonstrated endophenotypes of schizophrenia as well as bioenergetic abnormalities. We report findings on the bioenergetic interplay of astrocytes and neurons and discuss how dysregulation of these pathways may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, highlighting metabolic systems as important therapeutic targets.     

Ethnic disparities in problem behaviour in adolescence contribute to ethnic disparities in social class in adulthood

BACKGROUND: It is important for prevention of social class disparities to know how ethnic disparities in social class arise among migrant children. We contribute to this understanding by examining the role of problem behaviour in adolescence. METHODS: Prospective observational study with 753 Dutch native and 217 Turkish migrant adolescents (11-18 year) followed for 10 years. Internalising and externalising problems were assessed in adolescence and employment status and occupational level were assessed in adulthood. The difference in odds ratios (OR) before and after adjustment for internalising and externalising problems was an indication of the predictive value of disparities in internalising and externalising problems for the development of social class disparities. RESULTS: A total of 135 (62%) of the Turkish and 602 (80%) of the Dutch adults were employed. Internalising and externalising problems were not associated with employment status. Of the employed, 65 (48%) Turkish and 179 (30%) Dutch adults worked in low-level occupations (p < 0.0001). Internalising and externalising problems were associated with both ethnicity and occupation. The OR for low-level occupation for Turkish adults was 1.78 (1.19-2.65), indicating ethnic disparities. Adjustment for internalising problems lowered the OR with 36% to 1.50 (0.97-2.31), and adjustment for externalising problems lowered it with 8% to 1.72 (1.15-2.57). Findings were similar for men and women and did not vary by age. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic disparities in occupational level in adulthood could partly be attributed to disparities in mental health between Turkish migrants and Dutch natives in adolescence. Prevention of ethnic disparities in mental health at young age may therefore also contribute to the prevention of occupational differences in adulthood.     

Progress in neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease

Slowing or aborting the progress of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains the most important unmet need of this disorder. There are several recent developments in trial design and also in drugs under investigation for possible neuroprotective effect. Emphasis has been placed on clinical as opposed to imaging end-points and these include change in a clinical rating scale, e.g. United Parkinson's disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), or time to additional therapy. The introduction of the delayed-start, or wash-in, trial design adds an additional dimension to drug evaluation for neuroprotection. Compounds that have been recently tested in clinical trial include the monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor rasagiline, the anti-apoptotic agents TCH346 and CEP1347, and the promitochondrial agent creatine. The dopamine agonists have been evaluated for a neuroprotective effect using imaging end-points. Perhaps the most important and simplest concept for neuroprotection has been the theory that early dopaminergic support for the degenerating dopaminergic system per se provides significant long-term clinical benefit for PD patients.     

Changes in parasympathetic system in medulla oblongata in male pigs in the course of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy

Background

Autonomic imbalance constituting a fundamental feature of heart failure (HF) has been assessed mainly at the periphery. Changes in the functioning of autonomic centers in the brain remain unclear. We investigated the molecular elements of parasympathetic system, i.e. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) and enzymes metabolizing acetylcholine (acetylcholinesterase, AChE, choline acetyltransferase, ChAT) in medulla oblongata (MO) of male pigs with chronic tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

Methods

The mRNA levels of AChE, ChAT, α7nAChR and X-box binding protein 1 (spliced form, XBP1s) in MO were analyzed using qPCR, AChE and ChAT activities using spectrophotometry, proteasome activity using fluorometry, and the protein level of α7nAChR using Western blotting.

Results

The development of systolic HF was accompanied by an increase in circulating catecholamines, a decrease in the AChE and α7nAChR mRNA in MO, an increase in AChE activity (all p < 0.05), and no change in either the mRNA or activity of ChAT. Both circulating catecholamine levels and AChE activity were inversely related to systolic function of left myocardial ventricle (p < 0.05). The level of α7nAChR protein in MO and its cytoplasmatic fraction were higher in pigs with moderate and severe HF as compared to the other animals (p < 0.01). There was no difference in proteasome activity in MO between diseased and healthy animals, whereas the XBP1s mRNA decreased during HF progression (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Molecular elements of parasympathetic system are changed within the medulla oblongata during the progression of systolic non-ischemic heart failure in male pigs, indicating a functional link between MO and heart in HF.