Role of dysregulated calcium homeostasis in astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #Calcium Signaling
- #Neurodegeneration
- #Astrocytes
- Calcium signaling in astrocytes is crucial for maintaining brain homeostasis, influencing neuronal activity, and coordinating vascular and immune responses.
- Astrocytic Ca2+ dynamics are versatile and spatially compartmentalized, regulating functions like neurotransmitter uptake, ion buffering, metabolic support, and mitochondrial function.
- In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, astrocyte Ca2+ signaling becomes progressively dysregulated during aging.
- Alterations in astrocyte Ca2+ signaling are heterogeneous and context-dependent, varying from aberrant spontaneous activity to loss of signaling in specific subcellular domains, depending on disease stage, brain region, and molecular pathology.
- Dysregulation of astrocyte Ca2+ homeostasis impairs core homeostatic functions, contributing to neuronal vulnerability, circuit dysfunction, and impaired neurovascular regulation.
- Astrocytic Ca2+ signaling is a central element in neurodegenerative pathophysiology and represents a potential target for therapeutic interventions.