Affiliations: Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Dr. David Bouvier and Dr. Keith K. Murai, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, 1650 Cedar Avenue L12-409, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada. Tel.: +1 514 934 1934/Ext. 43477; Fax: +1 514 934 8216; Centre for Research in Neuroscience, 1650 Cedar Avenue L7-212, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada; E-mails: david.bouvier@mail.mcgill.ca; and keith.murai@mcgill.ca (Dr. Keith K. Murai).
Abstract: Microglia and astrocytes are essential components of brain homeostasis. Interestingly, when the brain is exposed to adverse conditions, both astrocytes and microglia acquire specialized ‘reactive’ or ‘activated’ phenotypes that relate to the characteristics of the insult. In most cases they become important perpetrators of inflammation and potentially neuronal dysfunction. In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, the reciprocal interactions between microglia and astrocytes may be particularly important for the development of neuronal pathology and disease states. An important challenge is to understand how microglia and astrocytes inter-communicate at different stages of disease and the importance of this crosstalk on the physiology of surrounding neurons. In this review we focus on the potential roles that microglia and astrocytes fulfill in early to late stages of AD and how their synergistic actions may shape the progression of AD pathology to affect brain health.
