From the Guidelines
Glial cells play a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of the nervous system, and their inclusion in disease models is essential for accurately understanding the impact of non-cell-autonomous effects. The importance of glial cells is highlighted in a study published in Neuron in 2018 1, which emphasizes the need for co-culturing relevant cell types, including glial cells, when designing iPSC-derived disease models. This is because glial cells, which make up at least half of the cells in the human brain, perform critical support roles for neurons in both healthy and diseased states. Some of the key functions of glial cells include:
- Maintaining homeostasis by regulating ion concentrations and neurotransmitter levels in the extracellular space
- Producing myelin sheaths that insulate axons, increasing the speed of nerve impulse transmission
- Providing metabolic support to neurons by supplying nutrients and removing waste products
- Participating in synapse formation and function
- Acting as immune cells of the brain, responding to injury and infection by removing cellular debris and pathogens As noted in the study 1, incorporating oligodendrocytes into co-cultures is critical for disorders of myelination, such as multiple sclerosis, where impaired interactions between neurons and myelin-producing oligodendrocytes lead to damaged neurons. Overall, the evidence suggests that glial cells are essential for normal nervous system function, and their inclusion in disease models is necessary for understanding the complex interactions between different cell types in the brain.
From the Research
Role of Glial Cells in the Brain
- Glial cells, including astrocytes, oligodendrocyte lineage cells, and microglia, make up more than 50% of the total number of cells in the mammalian brain 2.
- These cells play key roles in modulating various brain activities under physiological and pathological conditions 2, 3.
- The organization of interconnections between different glial cell populations and their impact on the healthy and diseased brain is not completely understood 2.
Functions of Glial Cells
- Glial cells can form highly complex interconnections with each other, with the astroglial network being well described 2.
- Oligodendrocytes and microglia may also contribute to the formation of glial networks under various circumstances 2.
- The functions of different glial populations in the brain under both physiological and pathological conditions remain unresolved to a certain extent 3.
Glial Cells in Disease
- Glial cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of central nervous system diseases, including multiple sclerosis 4, 5, 6.
- Disease-modifying drugs, such as interferon beta-1a and glatiramer acetate, have been shown to affect glial cell function and immune responses in multiple sclerosis patients 4, 5, 6.
- Studies have investigated the effects of these drugs on innate immunity cell populations, including monocytes and B cells 4, 6.