Neuroglobin and Cytoglobin in Mammalian Nervous Systems: About Distribution, Regulation, Function, and Some Open...

Globins are a class of globular proteins that function in the transportation or storage of oxygen. They are critical for cellular metabolism. Notable examples include hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells, and myoglobin, which is present in muscle cells. Approximately two decades ago, a third globin, designated as neuroglobin, was identified, expressed predominantly in neuronal cells. This was followed two years later by the fourth, cytoglobin, found in cells of the fibroblast lineage, as well as in neuronal cell populations of the central and nervous systems. Both neuroglobin and cytoglobin have been found in the sensory and endocrine systems, albeit inconsistently, and it is thought that they are engaged in functions such as oxygen transport and storage, scavenging of free radicals, NO metabolism, peroxidase activity, and signaling functions. Neuroglobin is also expressed in astrocytes under challenging conditions. Common neuroscience methods were utilized to study the distribution and regulation of globin tissues and of single brain cells. Despite considerable overlap in the findings of various studies, some results deviate significantly from other studies. The potential causes of these discrepancies may include variations in detection methods, animal age and sex, time of day and year, and differing cell culture conditions. This review will explore factors that may influence functional aspects of globins and their detection in the mammalian brain.