Astrocytes, a Promising Opportunity to Control the Progress of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

At present, there is no efficient treatment to prevent the evolution of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is generated by the concurrent activity of multiple factors, which is a serious obstacle for the development of etio-pathogenic treatments. Astrocytes may act on most factors involved in PD and the promotion of their neuroprotection activity may be particularly suitable to prevent the onset and progression of this basal ganglia (BG) disorder. The main causes proposed for PD, the ability of astrocytes to control these causes, and the procedures that can be used to promote the neuroprotective action of astrocytes will be commented upon, here.

Heteromerization of Dopamine D2 and Oxytocin Receptor in Adult Striatal Astrocytes

“…Chronic neuroinflammation and astrocytic and microglial activation are considered hallmarks of PD [80] and are proposed to play roles in PD pathophysiology [81][82][83], although the exact mechanisms involved in the relationship between neuroinflammation and PD remains to be elucidated [84]. Astrocytes are increasingly recognized as being able to influence dopaminergic neuron degeneration, exerting both neuroprotective and neurotoxic actions, and are proposed as a promising strategy target to control the progression of PD (see [85,86]; see also [87][88][89]). Notably, glial D2 receptors seem to play important roles in the modulation of neuroinflammation and in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, and ablation of astrocytic D2 receptor caused reduction of anti-inflammation protein alphaB-crystallin in the CNS ( [90], see also [91,92]).…”

Primary cilia and ciliary signaling pathways in aging and age-related brain disorders

“…As mentioned above, dysregulation of neuronal primary cilia and ciliary signaling plays a key role in AD and PD. Studies have suggested that other types of cells, such as astrocytes, are also engaged in various neurological diseases, including AD and PD ( Joe et al, 2018 ; Sanchez et al, 2021 ; Verkhratsky et al, 2010 ; Vincent et al, 2010 ). However, the role of primary cilia and ciliary signaling in astrocytes in these diseases remains poorly understood.…”