Review

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 7, 194-206 (March 2006) | doi:10.1038/nrn1870

Astrocyte dysfunction in neurological disorders: a molecular perspective

Gerald Seifert1, Karl Schilling2 & Christian Steinhäuser1  About the authors

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Recent work on glial cell physiology has revealed that glial cells, and astrocytes in particular, are much more actively involved in brain information processing than previously thought. This finding has stimulated the view that the active brain should no longer be regarded solely as a network of neuronal contacts, but instead as a circuit of integrated, interactive neurons and glial cells. Consequently, glial cells could also have as yet unexpected roles in the diseased brain. An improved understanding of astrocyte biology and heterogeneity and the involvement of these cells in pathogenesis offers the potential for developing novel strategies to treat neurological disorders.

Author affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Neurobiology, Clinic of Neurosurgery, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Stras zlige 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
  2. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 10, D-53115 Bonn, Germany.

Correspondence to: Christian Steinhäuser1 Email: Christian.Steinhaeuser@ukb.uni-bonn.de

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