Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Science. 2016 Feb 19;351(6275):849-54. doi: 10.1126/science.aab3103.
Astrocytes are specialized and heterogeneous cells that contribute to central nervous system function and homeostasis. However, the mechanisms that create and maintain differences among astrocytes and allow them to fulfill particular physiological roles remain poorly defined. We reveal that neurons actively determine the features of astrocytes in the healthy adult brain and define a role for neuron-derived sonic hedgehog (Shh) in regulating the molecular and functional profile of astrocytes. Thus, the molecular and physiological program of astrocytes is not hardwired during development but, rather, depends on cues from neurons that drive and sustain their specialized properties.
星形胶质细胞是一种特化且具有异质性的细胞，对中枢神经系统的功能和稳态起着重要作用。然而，导致星形胶质细胞之间产生并维持差异的机制，以及允许它们发挥特定生理作用的机制仍未得到明确界定。我们揭示了神经元在健康成年大脑中积极决定星形胶质细胞的特征，并确定了神经元衍生的 Sonic Hedgehog（Shh）在调节星形胶质细胞的分子和功能特征中的作用。因此，星形胶质细胞的分子和生理程序并非在发育过程中被预先设定，而是取决于神经元发出的信号，这些信号驱动并维持它们的特化特性。
