Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (Mar 2015)
Role of astrocytes in neuronal energetic production and its relationship with neurodegeneration
Abstract
Astrocytes are specialized glial cells that make important contributions to neuronal support and the blood-brain barrier. This barrier limits the passage of certain fatty acids and lipids to the Central Nervous System (CNS), which the majority of lipids found in this tissue must be synthesized right there. Astrocytes are involved in the conversion and production of fatty acids in the CNS as well as production of lipid messengers that apparently are involved in the activity of neurons and neuroprotective or neurodegenerative processes. For this reason, we review the role of astrocytes in energy production and its relationship to neuronal lipid changes in neuroprotective and neurodegenerative processes.
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