IMR Press / FBL / Volume 29 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2904142
Open Access Review
Deciphering the Enigma of Neuron-Glial Interactions in Neurological Disorders
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1 Hiralal Mazumdar Memorial College for Women, West Bengal State University, 700035 Kolkata, West Bengal, India
2 Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mushait Campus, King Khalid University (KKU), 62561 Abha, Saudi Arabia
3 Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mushait Campus, King Khalid University (KKU), 62561 Abha, Saudi Arabia
4 Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, 110025 New Delhi, India
5 Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, 202001 Aligarh, India
*Correspondence: professor.rehaan@gmail.com (S Rehan Ahmad); mdhafed@kku.edu.sa (Md. Zeyaullah)
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2024, 29(4), 142; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2904142
Submitted: 26 November 2023 | Revised: 27 January 2024 | Accepted: 6 February 2024 | Published: 8 April 2024
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Innate lymphocytes, including microglial cells, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, play a crucial role in initiating neuroinflammatory reactions inside the central nervous system (CNS). The prime focus of this paper is on the involvement and interplay of neurons and glial cells in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis (MS). In this review, we explore the specific contributions of microglia and astrocytes and analyzes multiple pathways implicated in neuroinflammation and disturbances in excitatory and inhibitory processes. Firstly, we elucidate the mechanisms through which toxic protein accumulation in AD results in synaptic dysfunction and deregulation of the immune system and examines the roles of microglia, astrocytes, and hereditary factors in the pathogenesis of the disease. Secondly, we focus on ASD and the involvement of glial cells in the development of the nervous system and the formation of connections between neurons and investigates the genetic connections associated with these processes. Lastly, we also address the participation of glial cells in epilepsy and MS, providing insights into their pivotal functions in both conditions. We also tried to give an overview of seven different pathways like toll-like receptor signalling pathway, MyD88-dependent and independent pathway, etc and its relevance in the context with these neurological disorders. In this review, we also explore the role of activated glial cells in AD, ASD, epilepsy, and MS which lead to neuroinflammation. Even we focus on excitatory and inhibitory imbalance in all four neurological disorders as imbalance affect the proper functioning of neuronal circuits. Finally, this review concludes that there is necessity for additional investigation on glial cells and their involvement in neurological illnesses.

Keywords
microglia
astrocytes
Alzheimer's Disease
autism spectrum disorder
epilepsy
multiple sclerosis
neuroinflammation
excitatory and inhibitory imbalance
Funding
RGP2/355/44/Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University
Figures
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