Glial biology articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Astrocytes are a major cell type in the central nervous system. Using single cell transcriptome sequencing, the authors identify multiple astrocyte subtypes in the adult mouse CNS, which map to distinct spatial locations and show correlations to cell morphology and physiology.

    • Mykhailo Y. Batiuk
    • , Araks Martirosyan
    •  & Matthew G. Holt

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Hypoxic brain damage associated with premature birth causes lasting neurological impairments. Here, the authors use environmental enrichment to rescue white matter dysmaturation following hypoxia, while identifying a critical window of intervention and oligodendrocyte-specific changes in gene expression.

    • Thomas A. Forbes
    • , Evan Z. Goldstein
    •  & Vittorio Gallo

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The molecular mechanisms regulating adult neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation following damage of the central nervous system are unclear. Here, the authors show that fibrinogen is a regulator of the adult neural stem/progenitor cell switch from neurogenesis to astrogenesis in a model of stroke

    • Lauriane Pous
    • , Sachin S. Deshpande
    •  & Christian Schachtrup

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Although it is known that microglia respond to injury and systemic disease in the brain, it is unclear if they modulate blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, which is critical for regulating neuroinflammatory responses. Here authors demonstrate that microglia respond to inflammation by migrating towards and accumulating around cerebral vessels, where they initially maintain BBB integrity via expression of the tight-junction protein Claudin-5 before switching, during sustained inflammation, to phagocytically remove astrocytic end-feet resulting in impaired BBB function

    • Koichiro Haruwaka
    • , Ako Ikegami
    •  & Hiroaki Wake

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It remains unclear how myelin is targeted specifically to axons while sparing neuronal cell bodies and dendrites, or how small gaps, the nodes of Ranvier, are left unmyelinated along the axon. In this study, authors used genetic analyses in zebrafish and mice to demonstrate that molecules of the paranodal axo-glial junction act jointly with molecules of the internodal domain to regulate axonal interactions and myelin wrapping, and that in the combined absence of these molecules myelin sheaths are misplaced.

    • Minou Djannatian
    • , Sebastian Timmler
    •  & Mikael Simons

  • Article
    | Open Access

    During cortical development the first wave of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) completely disappear by programmed cell death, so that it is presumed that this OPC population does not play a role at postnatal stages. In this study, authors use lineage tracing in different transgenic mice to show that a subpopulation of OPCs from the first wave survives at postnatal stages and display a preferential synaptic connectivity with their ontogenetically-related interneurons compared to other OPCs or interneurons

    • David Orduz
    • , Najate Benamer
    •  & María Cecilia Angulo

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Our current understanding of exosome signaling among CNS cells is mostly limited to culture models. In this study, authors generated a new cell-type specific exosome reporter mouse line which allows the first in vivo investigation of the localization of neuronal exosomes in the CNS, and also potentially highlights the role of exosomally transferred miR-124-3p in mediating astroglial glutamate uptake function

    • Yuqin Men
    • , Julia Yelick
    •  & Yongjie Yang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Oligodendrocyte processes can detect and respond to axonal vesicular release. The authors here show in zebrafish that transsynaptic adhesion molecules, molecules that promote synapse formation and maturation in neurons, are expressed by oligodendrocytes and required for myelin sheath growth.

    • Alexandria N. Hughes
    •  & Bruce Appel

  • Review Article
    | Open Access

    The scar formation that occurs following spinal cord injury has properties that are distinct to scars seen in other areas of the CNS, and in other tissues. Here the authors discuss the components of the spinal cord injury scar and how it can have both detrimental and positive roles in relation to recovery.

    • Elizabeth J. Bradbury
    •  & Emily R. Burnside

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Genetics implicate microglia in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis, but their roles remain unclear. Here, the authors find that microglial depletion in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease impairs plaque formation and that Aβ-induced changes in neuronal gene expression are microglia-mediated.

    • Elizabeth Spangenberg
    • , Paul L. Severson
    •  & Kim N. Green

  • Article
    | Open Access

    How astrocytes influence neuronal plasticity remains unclear, as they are typically considered as modulators of core mechanisms driven by neuronal components. Here, authors show that Long-term depression (LTD) induction in the hippocampus triggers calcium signaling in the astrocyte and enhances SNARE-dependent astrocytic glutamate release, which is then responsible for the activation of postsynaptic NMDA receptors and synaptic depression.

    • Marta Navarrete
    • , María I. Cuartero
    •  & José A. Esteban

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is unclear if early pathological changes in normal-appearing multiple sclerosis (MS) tissue are reflected by molecular changes in microglia, which might contribute to lesion initiation. Here, authors demonstrate significant intrinsic differences in the human microglial transcriptome between grey and white matter regions, isolated from MS and non-neurological control donors, and show early microglial changes related to MS pathology.

    • Marlijn van der Poel
    • , Thomas Ulas
    •  & Inge Huitinga

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The fundamental mechanism of how sensory axons traverse a spinal cord glia limitans remains debatable, with some suggesting a role for boundary cap cells at the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ). Here, authors use time-lapse imaging of DRG axons at the DREZ to show that pioneer axons enter the DREZ before the presence of boundary cap cells, and that this entry is critically dependent on the development of actin-rich invasion structures reminiscent of invadopodia.

    • Ev L. Nichols
    •  & Cody J. Smith

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The role of microglia following spinal cord injury is not fully understood. Here, using transgenic approaches to selectively label microglia and not macrophages in mice, the authors show that microglia are highly active and accumulate at the edge of the lesion in the first weeks post injury, and also that inhibiting microglia activation impairs recovery in the early stages after spinal cord injury.

    • Victor Bellver-Landete
    • , Floriane Bretheau
    •  & Steve Lacroix

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is unclear if multiple sclerosis (MS) genetic susceptibility can be mediated through perturbations of CNS-intrinsic pathways. Authors show that the rs7665090 risk variant is associated with astrocyte responses that enhance lymphocyte recruitment, and with increased lymphocyte infiltration and lesion sizes in MS lesions.

    • Gerald Ponath
    • , Matthew R. Lincoln
    •  & David Pitt

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Previous studies have shown that depletion of microglia at early developmental stages leads to neuronal death. Here the authors use an inducible system to ablate microglia in adulthood, showing that such depletion leads to ataxia-like behavior and neuronal loss, and identifying the inflammatory components that may contribute.

    • Stephen J. Rubino
    • , Lior Mayo
    •  & Howard L. Weiner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Brain organoid models reported to date lack cells of mesodermal origin, such as microglia. Here, the authors demonstrate that mature microglia-like cells are generated within their cerebral organoid model, providing new avenues for studying human microglia in a three-dimensional brain environment.

    • Paul R. Ormel
    • , Renata Vieira de Sá
    •  & R. Jeroen Pasterkamp

  • Article
    | Open Access

    While previous studies had shown the requirement of TGFβ signalling in microglia gene expression, the specificity of the loss-of-function was unclear. Here, Zöller and colleagues generate microglia specific cKO of TGFβ receptor 2, and show dispensable function of Tgfbr2 in microglial survival and the requirement of Tgfbr2 in morphological and transcriptional homeostasis of adult microglia.

    • Tanja Zöller
    • , Artur Schneider
    •  & Björn Spittau

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The isolation and propagation of oligodendroglial cells from postnatal animals can be impractical for functional genetic studies. This study highlights the potential of a new approach to rapidly generate oligodendrocytes and their progenitors from mouse embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, independent of mouse strain or mutational status.

    • Angela M. Lager
    • , Olivia G. Corradin
    •  & Paul J. Tesar

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Astrocytes have gained increasing attention for their roles in regulating neural circuits via neurotransmitter uptake, K + buffering, and ability to signal via Ca2 + transients. Here, the authors develop a computational modelling environment for astrocytes, akin to the NEURON environment, called ASTRO.

    • Leonid P. Savtchenko
    • , Lucie Bard
    •  & Dmitri A. Rusakov

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) undergo asymmetric cell division, and disruption of such mechanism can generate oligodendroglioma precursors. Here, Daynac and colleagues show that Lgl1 regulates asymmetric division and differentiation of OPCs by interfering with the endocytosis pathway, and that Lgl1 knockout can lead to gliomagenesis.

    • Mathieu Daynac
    • , Malek Chouchane
    •  & Claudia K. Petritsch

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Myelin-forming cells derive from oligodendrocyte progenitors. Here the authors identify histone arginine methyl-transferase PRMT5 as critical for developmental myelination by modulating the cross-talk between histone arginine methylation and lysine acetylation, to favor differentiation.

    • Antonella Scaglione
    • , Julia Patzig
    •  & Patrizia Casaccia

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Alexander disease is a rare neurodegeneration caused by mutations in a glial gene GFAP. Here, Wang and colleagues show in animal models of Alexander disease that GFAP mutant brain and cells have greater tissue and cellular stiffness and greater activation of mechanosensitive signaling cascade.

    • Liqun Wang
    • , Jing Xia
    •  & Mel B. Feany

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Aging is associated with various changes in the brain, including transcription alteration. Here, Bradshaw and colleagues describe the transcriptome of aged human cortical microglia, and show age-related gene expression as related to neurodegeneration.

    • Marta Olah
    • , Ellis Patrick
    •  & Elizabeth M. Bradshaw

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The peripheral nervous system has been implicated in wound healing. Here, Parfejevs and colleagues report that cutaneous wounding in mice induces the de-differentiation and proliferation of Schwann cells, which disseminate into the wound bed, secrete soluble factors, and promote wound healing.

    • Vadims Parfejevs
    • , Julien Debbache
    •  & Lukas Sommer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Interneurons in the neocortex have functional and morphological subtypes. Here, Mariotti and colleagues show that activation of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons evokes depressing calcium responses in astrocytes while somatostatin-expressing interneurons evoke potentiating astrocytic responses.

    • Letizia Mariotti
    • , Gabriele Losi
    •  & Giorgio Carmignoto

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Astrocytes in the brain are metabolically dynamic. Here, Ignatenko, Chilov and colleagues delete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in a cell type specific manner, and show that inactivation of mtDNA helicase Twinkle in astrocytes leads to spongiotic encephalopathy.

    • Olesia Ignatenko
    • , Dmitri Chilov
    •  & Anu Suomalainen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Astrocytes can have protective or detrimental effects on neurons during injury, but the molecular mechanisms that determine these different states are unresolved. Here the authors identify a pathway via neuronal EphB1 that induces neuroprotective signalling in astrocytes through ephrin-B1 mediated STAT3 activation, which is impaired in models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

    • Giulia E. Tyzack
    • , Claire E. Hall
    •  & András Lakatos

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Astrocytes are involved in chemoreception in brainstem areas that regulate breathing rhythm, and astrocytes are known to release d-serine. Here the authors show that astrocyte release of d-serine contributes to CO2 sensing and breathing in brainstem slices, and in vivo in awake unrestrained mice.

    • S. Beltrán-Castillo
    • , M. J. Olivares
    •  & J. L. Eugenín

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Axon-glial communication is important for myelination. Here the authors show that during postnatal development in rats, a subpopulation of pre-myelinating oligodendrocytes in the auditory brainstem receive excitatory inputs and can generate Nav 1.2-driven action potentials, and that such process promotes myelination.

    • Emmanuelle Berret
    • , Tara Barron
    •  & Jun Hee Kim

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