Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics Along the Pain Pathway

Astrocytes, once thought to be passive cells merely filling the space between neurons in the nervous system, are receiving attention as active modulators of the brain and spinal cord physiology by providing nutrients, maintaining homeostasis, and modulating synaptic transmission. Accumulating eviden...

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Main Authors: Jeiwon Cho, Yeowool Huh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2020.594216/full
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spelling doaj-909ed57f75634d2fa2d80d3b7d2f1a742020-11-25T01:53:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022020-10-011410.3389/fncel.2020.594216594216Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics Along the Pain PathwayJeiwon Cho0Yeowool Huh1Yeowool Huh2Brain and Cognitive Science, Scranton College, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South KoreaDepartment of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, South KoreaTranslational Brain Research Center, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon, South KoreaAstrocytes, once thought to be passive cells merely filling the space between neurons in the nervous system, are receiving attention as active modulators of the brain and spinal cord physiology by providing nutrients, maintaining homeostasis, and modulating synaptic transmission. Accumulating evidence indicates that astrocytes are critically involved in chronic pain regulation. Injury induces astrocytes to become reactive, and recent studies suggest that reactive astrocytes can have either neuroprotective or neurodegenerative effects. While the exact mechanisms underlying the transition from resting astrocytes to reactive astrocytes remain unknown, astrocytic calcium increase, coordinated by inflammatory molecules, has been suggested to trigger this transition. In this mini review article, we will discuss the roles of astrocytic calcium, channels contributing to calcium dynamics in astrocytes, astrocyte activations along the pain pathway, and possible relationships between astrocytic calcium dynamics and chronic pain.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2020.594216/fullastrocytecalciumcalcium channelspain pathwaychronic painneuropathic pain
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jeiwon Cho
Yeowool Huh
Yeowool Huh
spellingShingle Jeiwon Cho
Yeowool Huh
Yeowool Huh
Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics Along the Pain Pathway
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
astrocyte
calcium
calcium channels
pain pathway
chronic pain
neuropathic pain
author_facet Jeiwon Cho
Yeowool Huh
Yeowool Huh
author_sort Jeiwon Cho
title Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics Along the Pain Pathway
title_short Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics Along the Pain Pathway
title_full Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics Along the Pain Pathway
title_fullStr Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics Along the Pain Pathway
title_full_unstemmed Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics Along the Pain Pathway
title_sort astrocytic calcium dynamics along the pain pathway
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
series Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
issn 1662-5102
publishDate 2020-10-01
description Astrocytes, once thought to be passive cells merely filling the space between neurons in the nervous system, are receiving attention as active modulators of the brain and spinal cord physiology by providing nutrients, maintaining homeostasis, and modulating synaptic transmission. Accumulating evidence indicates that astrocytes are critically involved in chronic pain regulation. Injury induces astrocytes to become reactive, and recent studies suggest that reactive astrocytes can have either neuroprotective or neurodegenerative effects. While the exact mechanisms underlying the transition from resting astrocytes to reactive astrocytes remain unknown, astrocytic calcium increase, coordinated by inflammatory molecules, has been suggested to trigger this transition. In this mini review article, we will discuss the roles of astrocytic calcium, channels contributing to calcium dynamics in astrocytes, astrocyte activations along the pain pathway, and possible relationships between astrocytic calcium dynamics and chronic pain.
topic astrocyte
calcium
calcium channels
pain pathway
chronic pain
neuropathic pain
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2020.594216/full
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