astrocytes

[Nature Reviews Neurology] The authors provide an overview of the involvement of astrocytes and microglia at major sites of pathology in progressive multiple sclerosis.

[Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry] Scientists utilized bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibitors DMH1, JL5, and Ym155 to examine the role of BMP signaling on the growth of glioblastomas.

[Nature Communications] Investigators showed that Human Enterovirus A71 (HEVA71)-infected astrocytes released CXCL1 which supported viral replication in neurons by activating the CXCR2 receptor-associated ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

[Nature Reviews Drug Discovery] The authors highlight general mechanisms of astrocyte regulation and their potential as therapeutic targets, including drugs that alter astrocyte metabolism, and therapies that target transporters and receptors on astrocytes.

[Scientific Reports] The authors reported that the deletion of dystroglycan (DG) in rat hippocampal cell cultures caused pronounced changes in the density and morphology of dendritic spines. They also noted a decrease in laminin, one of the major extracellular partners of DG.

[Journal of Cell Biology] Scientists devised a straightforward bioengineered neural organoid culture approach entailing transcription factor–driven direct differentiation of neurons and astrocytes from human PSC combined with genetically encoded tools for dual cell-selective activation.