Reactive astrocytes secrete lcn2 to promote neuron death

Reactive astrocytes secrete lcn2 to promote neuron death.

Glial reaction is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have suggested that reactive astrocytes gain neurotoxic properties, but exactly how reactive astrocytes contribute to neurotoxicity remains to be determined. Here, we identify lipocalin 2 (lcn2) as an inducible factor that is secreted by reactive astrocytes and that is selectively toxic to neurons. We show that lcn...

Human astrocytes secrete IL-6 to promote glioma migration and invasion through upregulation of cytomembrane MMP14

The brain microenvironment has emerged as an important component in malignant progression of human glioma. However, astrocytes, the most abundant glial cells in the glioma microenvironment, have as yet a poorly defined role in the development of this disease, particularly with regard to invasion. Here, we co-cultured human astrocytes with human glioma cell lines, U251 and A172, in an in vitro t...

Motor Neuron Death in ALS: Programmed by Astrocytes?

Motor neurons in ALS die via cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. Using adult human astrocytes and motor neurons, Re et al. (2014), in this issue of Neuron, discover that familial and sporadic ALS-derived human adult astrocytes secrete neurotoxic factors that selectively kill motor neurons through necroptosis, suggesting a new therapeutic avenue.

Reactive astrocytes promote axonal remodeling and neurological recovery after stroke

Spinal astrocytes produce and secrete dynorphin neuropeptides.

Dynorphin peptide neurotransmitters (neuropeptides) have been implicated in spinal pain processing based on the observations that intrathecal delivery of dynorphin results in proalgesic effects and disruption of extracellular dynorphin activity (by antisera) prevents injury evoked hyperalgesia. However, the cellular source of secreted spinal dynorphin has been unknown. For this reason, this stu...