Taking as its focus the biology and pathology of glial cells, this text pays special attention to the issues concerning the cellular and molecular interactions occurring between glia and neurons. Research in the 30 years up to 1999 has shown that, contrary to previously held conceptions of the role of glial cells as being of secondary importance to that of neurons, they are major constituents of the nervous system, playing a pivotal role during development and adulthood. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that glial cells are involved in a number of disease states, some of which are still incurable, such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and other central and peripheral neuropathies. It is also well known that Schwann cells, the major glial cells of the peripheral nervous system, are unique in their ability to sustain and promote regeneration not only of peripheral but also of central neurons after traumatic injury. Thus the relatively new idea of repairing CNS damage through the transplantation of glial cells is an approach with great clinical potential.
Edited by:
Rebecca Matsas,
Marco Tsacopoulos
Imprint: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 1999 ed.
Volume: 468
Dimensions:
Height: 235mm,
Width: 155mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 1.640kg
ISBN: 9780306462054
ISBN 10: 0306462052
Series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
Pages: 389
Publication Date: 31 October 1999
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Further / Higher Education
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
I. Glial Cell Development.- 1. Developmental Regulation in the Schwann Cell Lineage.- 2. Transcriptional Regulation of the POU Gene Oct-6 in Schwann Cells.- 3. Glia Development in the Embryonic CNS of Drosophila.- 4. Role and Mechanism of Action of Glial Cell Deficient/Glial Cell Missing (Glide/gcm),the Fly Glial Promoting Factor.- II. Glia in Neurotransmission, Neuromodulation, and Neuron Survival.- 5. Expression and Functional Analysis of Glutamate Receptors in Glial Cells.- 6. Astrocytes as Active Participants of Glutamatergic Function and Regulators of Its Homeostasis.- 7. Glia-Neuron Interaction by High-Affinity Glutamate Transporters in Neurotransmission.- 8. On How Altered Glutamate Homeostasis May Contribute to Demyelinating Diseases of the CNS.- 9. Possible Role of Microglial Prostanoids and Free Radicals in Neuroprotection and Neurodegeneration.- III. Glia, Inflammation, and Cytokines.- 10. The Role of Microglia and Astrocytes in CNS Immune Surveillance and Immunopathology.- 11. The Role of Chemokines in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis.- 12. Humoral and Cellular Immune Functions of Cytokine-Treated Schwann Cells.- 13. Axotomy-Induced Glial Reactions in Normal and Cytokine Transgenic Mice.- IV. Glia in CNS Plasticity and Regeneration.- 14. Contribution of Astrocytes to Activity-Dependent Structural Plasticity in the Adult Brain.- 15. The Role of Oligodendrocytes and Oligodendrocyte Progenitors in CNS Remyelination.- 16. Growth Promoting and Inhibitory Effects of Glial Cells in the Mammalian Nervous System.- 17. Neurite Outgrowth Inhibitors in Gliotic Tissue.- V. Transgenic Models of Human Myelin Diseases.- 18. Connexin32 in Hereditary Neuropathies.- 19. Genetic Analysis of Myelin Galactolipid function.- 20. Transgenic Models of TNF Induced Demyelination.- 21. Dysmyelination in Mice and the Proteolipid Protein Gene Family.- VI. Neuron-Glial Communications Neurotrophins and Cell Adhesion Molecules.- 22. Neurotrophins in Cell Survival/Death Decisions.- 23. Neuregulin in Neuron/Glial Interactions in the Central Nervous System: GGF2 Diminishes Autoimmune Demyelination, Promotes Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Expansion, and Enhances Remyelination.- 24. Adhesion Molecule Expression and Phenotype of Glial Cells in the Olfactory Tract.- 25. Bidirectional Signaling between Neurons and Glial Cells via the F3 Neuronal Adhesion Molecule.- VII. Connexins and Information Transfer through Glia.- 26. Connexins and Information Transfer through Glia.- 27. Gap Junctions in Glia: Types, Roles, and Plasticity.- 28. Metabolic Coupling and the Role Played by Astrocytes in Energy Distribution and Homeostasis.- 29. Consequences of Impaired Gap Junctional Communication in Glial Cells.- List of Contributors.
