星形胶质细胞在阿尔茨海默病发病进程中的作用

The Roles of Astrocytes in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)是导致老年人记忆、思维和行为障碍的最常见神经退行性疾病。星形胶质细胞(astrocyte,AS)在AD发病进程中扮演重要角色。在AD病理情况下,AS具有神经保护和损伤双重功能。AS通过摄取、清除异常物质和释放神经营养因子起到神经保护的作用;激活型AS产生和释放促炎细胞因子与毒性物质等直接或间接作用于其他脑细胞,增强炎症级联反应和Aβ聚集沉积,影响着AD的病理进程。该文总结在AD发病进程中AS对其他脑细胞的影响,以期待为AS作为目标靶点预防和治疗AD提供新思路。

AD(Alzheimer’s disease)is the most common neurodegenerative disease that causes memory decline,cognitive dysfunction and behavior disorders in the aged people.Current evidences have shown that astrocytes play an important role in the development of AD.Under the pathological conditions of AD,astrocytes have both protective and damaging effects on the nervous system.On one hand,astrocytes serve as protectors of the nerves system by ingesting and expulsing the abnormal substances and by producing neurotrophic factors.While,on the other hand,astrocytes can directly or indirectly impact the other brain cells by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and toxic substances.In this process,the astrocytes enhance the inflammatory cascade reaction and Aβaccumulation,which exacerbates the pathological process of AD.This article summarizes the effects of astrocytes on other brain cells in AD,hoping to provide a new strategy that targets astrocytes in the prevention and treatment of AD.