A Commentary on the Need for 3D-Biologically Relevant In Vitro Environments to Investigate Astrocytes and Their Role in Central Nervous System Inflammation

Astrocytes execute essential functions in the healthy CNS, whilst also being implicated as a limitation to functional regeneration and repair after injury. They respond to injury to minimize damage to healthy tissue whilst also attempting to seal the broken blood-brain-barrier, however, they impede...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurochemical research 2016-03, Vol.41 (3), p.589-592
Main Authors: Maclean, F. L., Williams, R. J., Horne, M. K., Nisbet, D. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Astrocytes - cytology
Astrocytes - physiology
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Brain - cytology
Cell Biology
Cell Culture Techniques
Cell Differentiation
Central Nervous System Diseases - pathology
Humans
Hydrogels
Inflammation - pathology
Nanofibers
Neurochemistry
Neurology
Neurosciences
Original Paper
Spinal Cord - cytology
Tissue Scaffolds
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Astrocytes execute essential functions in the healthy CNS, whilst also being implicated as a limitation to functional regeneration and repair after injury. They respond to injury to minimize damage to healthy tissue whilst also attempting to seal the broken blood-brain-barrier, however, they impede recovery if they are persistent and form a permanent scar in the injured brain. As such, it is of great importance to understand the mechanism underlying the astrocytic response to injury, and this understanding is currently limited by the in vitro environments available to scientists. Biomaterials such as nanofibres and hydrogels offer great potential for the development of superior, 3D cell culture environments in which to study astrocyte behavior and phenotype. The implementation of such in vitro environments with a particularly interdisciplinary approach can improve the field’s understanding of astrocytes, their role in central nervous system inflammation, and elucidate potential strategies to achieve functional regeneration.
ISSN:0364-3190
1573-6903
DOI:10.1007/s11064-015-1697-8