Inserm U603, Paris, France.
Neuroscientist. 2012 Jun;18(3):237-50. doi: 10.1177/1073858411403317. Epub 2011 May 23.
The major types of glial cells-astrocytes, microglia, and cells of the oligodendroglial lineage-are known to express functional metabotropic and ionotropic GABA receptors. Neuronal signaling mechanisms allowing for the activation of these receptors in glia are probably as complex as those described among neurons and involve synaptic and extrasynaptic transmission modes. In addition, astrocytes can signal back to neurons by releasing GABA, probably through unconventional nonvesicular mechanisms. The decryption of the roles played by GABAergic signaling in neuron-glia interactions is only beginning, but it has been suggested that activation of glial cells by GABA influences important functions of the brain such as neuronal activity, differentiation, myelination, and neuroprotection. This review discusses the cellular mechanisms allowing the major types of glial cells to sense and transmit GABAergic signals and gives an overview of potential roles of this signaling pathway in developing and mature brains.
已知神经胶质细胞（星形胶质细胞、小胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞谱系细胞）主要类型表达功能性代谢型和离子型 GABA 受体。允许这些受体在神经胶质细胞中被激活的神经元信号机制可能与神经元之间描述的机制一样复杂，并涉及突触和 extrasynaptic 传递模式。此外，星形胶质细胞可以通过释放 GABA 向神经元发出信号，可能通过非典型的非囊泡机制。GABA 能信号在神经元-神经胶质相互作用中的作用的解密才刚刚开始，但已经有人提出，GABA 激活神经胶质细胞会影响大脑的重要功能，如神经元活动、分化、髓鞘形成和神经保护。本文讨论了允许主要类型的神经胶质细胞感知和传递 GABA 能信号的细胞机制，并概述了该信号通路在发育和成熟大脑中的潜在作用。
