Astrocytic Vesicle Mobility in Health and Disease |
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Authors: | Maja Potokar Nina Vardjan Matja? Stenovec Mateja Gabrijel Sa?a Trkov Jernej Jorga?evski Marko Kreft Robert Zorec |
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Affiliation: | 1.Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology-Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; E-Mails: (M.P.); (N.V.); (M.S.); (M.G.); (S.T.); (J.J.); (M.K.);2.Celica Biomedical Center, Tehnološki park 24, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;3.Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia |
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Abstract: | Astrocytes are no longer considered subservient to neurons, and are, instead, now understood to play an active role in brain signaling. The intercellular communication of astrocytes with neurons and other non-neuronal cells involves the exchange of molecules by exocytotic and endocytotic processes through the trafficking of intracellular vesicles. Recent studies of single vesicle mobility in astrocytes have prompted new views of how astrocytes contribute to information processing in nervous tissue. Here, we review the trafficking of several types of membrane-bound vesicles that are specifically involved in the processes of (i) intercellular communication by gliotransmitters (glutamate, adenosine 5′-triphosphate, atrial natriuretic peptide), (ii) plasma membrane exchange of transporters and receptors (EAAT2, MHC-II), and (iii) the involvement of vesicle mobility carrying aquaporins (AQP4) in water homeostasis. The properties of vesicle traffic in astrocytes are discussed in respect to networking with neighboring cells in physiologic and pathologic conditions, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and states in which astrocytes contribute to neuroinflammatory conditions. |
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Keywords: | astrocyte glia vesicle trafficking gliotransmitter antigen presentation neuroinflammation amyotrophic lateral sclerosis multiple sclerosis |
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