Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 7, 2025

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 7, 2014
The Mechanism and Function of Glia in Parkinson's Disease
Xinguo Zhang1, Ruiqi Zhang1, Maher Un Nisa Awan1
1Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.
Abstract:
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects elderly people. The mechanism on onset and progression of PD is unknown. Currently, there are no effective treatment strategies for PD. PD is thought to be the loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, but it has recently been discovered that glia also affects brain tissue homeostasis, defense, and repair in PD. The neurodegenerative process is linked to both losses of glial supportive-defensive functions and toxic gain of glial functions. In this article, we reviewed the roles of microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in the development of PD, as well as the potential use of glia-related medications in PD treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Glial Cells
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells
The CNS glial cell includes the astrocytes, the oligodendrocytes, the microglia, and the ependymal cells.
Astrocytes are star-shaped glial...
Neural Regulation
Lysosomal Hydrolases

