The human brain is often depicted as billions of nerve cells connected to each other in circuits through which electrical impulses flow. But this vision of the brain ignores the fact that in addition to nerve cells the brain also houses as many or more other cells called glia which surround and are intimately associated with the nerve cells. There are three types of glia – astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia. The research of Alex Verkhratsky has revealed critical roles for glial cells in supporting the survival and functions of neurons, and modulating neuronal network activities. Here he talks about these roles for glial cells with emphasis on calcium and ATP as signals within and between astrocytes and neurons. He also talks about how alterations in glial cells contribute to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
LINKS
Alex’s Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexei_Verkhratsky
Review articles
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8788756/pdf/zqaa016.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7266005/pdf/nihms-1581159.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7188604/pdf/nihms-1581152.pdf
Evolutionary perspective on calcium and ATP as universal cellular signals
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4938020/pdf/rstb20150419.pdf
