In the brains of patients with epilepsy, apolipoprotein E-mediated lipid transfer from hyperactive neurons to astrocytes results in lipid metabolism reprogramming and formation of lipid-accumulated reactive astrocytes. These astrocytes exacerbate abnormal discharges of neighboring neurons and, in mice, aggravate seizure symptoms, leading to disease progression.
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References
Patel, D. C. et al. Neuron–glia interactions in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 20, 282–297 (2019). This paper reviews neuron–glia crosstalk in epilepsy.
Ioannou, M. S. et al. Neuron-astrocyte metabolic coupling protects against activity-induced fatty acid toxicity. Cell 177, 1522–1535.e1514 (2019). This article describes fatty acid transport between neurons and astrocytes.
Escartin, C. et al. Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions. Nat. Neurosci. 24, 312–325 (2021). This paper provides the latest expert consensus on reactive astrocyte research.
Liu, L. et al. The glia–neuron lactate shuttle and elevated ROS promote lipid synthesis in neurons and lipid droplet accumulation in glia via APOE/D. Cell Metab. 26, 719–737.e716 (2017). This article describes glia–neuron lactate transport mediated by APOE and APOD.
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This is a summary of: Chen, Z.-P. et al. Lipid-accumulated reactive astrocytes promote disease progression in epilepsy. Nat. Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01288-6 (2023).
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Abnormal lipid metabolism shapes astrocyte reactivity in patients with epilepsy. Nat Neurosci 26, 535–536 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01298-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01298-4
