神奇的“胶水”细胞

The Miracle“Glue”Cell

胶质细胞是一类神经系统中区别于神经元的一大类细胞,其数量是神经元的10~50倍。而且在相当长的一段时间胶质细胞也被认为是神经系统中的一种“胶水”,仅起到黏结神经元和填充神经系统的作用。随着近几十年神经科学的发展,神经生物学家们发现,胶质细胞的功能多种多样,并参与记忆、认知、神经发育性和退行性疾病,甚至衰老等高级功能。通过PubMed查询,中国胶质细胞相关论文的十年增长率为270%,远远高于全球平均增长率140%,说明中国在胶质细胞方面的研究势头非常强劲。本期《生物化学与生物物理进展》刊出了围绕胶质细胞的19篇论文。涵盖胶质细胞的生理功能和病理功能的各个方面。本期的刊行将有利于推动国内胶质细胞科学研究,并为中国脑计划提供参考。

Glial cells are a large group of cells in the nervous system that are distinct from neurons and are 10-50 times more numerous.For a long time,glial cells were considered a kind of“glue”in the nervous system,only to bind neurons and fill the nervous system.As neuroscience has advanced in recent decades,neurobiologists have discovered that glial cells perform a variety of functions and are involved in higher functions such as memory,cognition,neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases,and even aging.According to PubMed,the 10-year growth rate of glial cell related papers in China is 270%,much higher than the global average growth rate of 140%,indicating that the research momentum of glial cells in China is very strong.This issue of Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics has collected 19 papers on glial cells.It covers the aspects of physiological and pathological functions of glial cells.The publication of this issue will promote scientific research on glial cells in China and serve as a reference for the China Brain Project.