‘Helper cells’ not always helpful in brain injuries
A new study reveals that certain cells thought of as “helper cells” can turn toxic in brain injuries and cause damage to neurons. According to an article posted by Medical News Today, astrocytes, which are a type of cell that surround and support neurons, have a subtype that can eventually kill neurons rather than helping […]
A new study reveals that certain cells thought of as “helper cells” can turn toxic in brain injuries and cause damage to neurons.
According to an article posted by Medical News Today, astrocytes, which are a type of cell that surround and support neurons, have a subtype that can eventually kill neurons rather than helping them to repair following injury or disease.
The study comes from researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of Melbourne.
“The researchers suggest that the findings could lead to new treatments for brain injuries and major neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease,” the article reads. “Lead author Dr. Shane Liddelow, of the department of pharmacology and therapeutics at Melbourne, and the department of neurobiology at Stanford, says that while astrocytes have often been described as ‘helper’ cells, it has also been shown that they can become toxic and contribute to the damage caused by brain injury and disease by killing other brain cells.”
Astrocytes, which are shaped like a star and reside in the central nervous system, outnumber neurons by about five times. It has been thought for a long time that the cells provide structural support for neurons. But recent studies have shown that astrocytes offer more than just support for neurons, they actually perform a variety of complex roles in the brain and central nervous system.
“For example, it is now known that astrocytes enhance neuron survival and help to shape brain circuitry. It is also known that astrocytes can change from benign ‘resting astrocytes’ into ‘reactive astrocytes’ with altered features, following brain trauma, infection, stroke, and disease,” the article reads.
With all the studies that have been done on astrocytes though, it still isn’t clear whether they are good or bad cells.
The researchers in this particular study found a subtype of reactive astrocytes, which they call A1, that occurs in disease and injury.
It is A1 astrocytes that appear to be toxic and rather than helping neurons to grow, they kill them and other cells known to help grow the myelin sheath that insulates connections between neurons.
