Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells which provide structural and metabolic support to neurons and respond to beneficial and detrimental effects in response to neurological trauma. The current research study at University of Bristol suggests brain injury could trigger shape changes in astrocyte cell cultures by altering the genes that controlled actin, a key component of the cytoskeleton. They also identified as yet unknown proteins that were also important in changing astrocyte shape. Given that these astrocyte changes can be both harmful (by preventing the regeneration of nerve cells) or beneficial (by creating a scar that prevents further damage), researchers say they are only beginning to understand the relationship between astrocytes and traumatic brain injury.
Read more: http://bit.ly/1bpkhHs
Read more: http://bit.ly/1bpkhHs
Journal article: The antagonistic modulation of Arp2/3 activity by N-WASP/WAVE2 and PICK1 defines dynamic changes in astrocyte morphology. Journal of Cell Science, 2013; DOI: 10.1242/jcs.125146
Image: Astrocytes (Blue) and Microglial cells (Red) in hippocampus of the adult rat brain
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