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Monitoring Astrocyte Reactivity and Proliferation in Vitro Under Ischemic-Like Conditions
Published on: October 21, 2017
Astrocytes degenerate in frontotemporal dementia: possible relation to hypoperfusion
J A Martin1, D K Craft, J H Su
1Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4540, USA. jamx@uci.edu
Neurobiology of Aging
|February 22, 2001
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) shows astrocyte degeneration, characterized by specific molecular and morphological changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive cells. This pathology correlates with reduced cerebral blood flow, suggesting a role in FTD pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuropathology
Background:
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease with poorly understood astrocyte involvement.
- Astrocyte pathology is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in neurodegenerative disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent and specificity of astrocyte degeneration in sporadic FTD.
- To correlate astrocyte pathology with cerebral blood flow disturbances.
Main Methods:
- Examined FTD brains for molecular and morphological astrocyte changes using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) labeling.
- Quantified reactive and degenerating astrocytes in cortical regions.
- Compared FTD cases with age-matched controls.
- Reproduced astrocyte morphology in cultured astrocytes under ischemic conditions.
- Assessed cerebral blood flow using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
Main Results:
- A subpopulation of GFAP(+) astrocytes showed TdT labeling and process beading in FTD cases with gliosis.
- This morphology was observed in frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices of 5 out of 7 FTD cases.
- Degenerating astrocytes inversely correlated with cerebral blood flow (r = 0.55, p < 0.05).
- Areas of astrogliosis corresponded with SPECT hypoperfusion.
Conclusions:
- Specific astrocyte degeneration occurs in sporadic FTD.
- Astrogliosis and astrocyte degeneration are linked to cerebral hypoperfusion in FTD.
- Astrocyte pathology may contribute to or result from cerebral blood flow disturbances in FTD.
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