Glia-neuron interplay in health and disease: pharmacological evidence for this required teamwork

Glia is a cell population highly present in the central nervous system (CNS) with the purpose, among other functions, to support neurons. In fact, many of these cells are closely in contact with neurons, actively participating to homeostatic support and synaptic transmission. For instance, astrocytes are considered integral part of the tripartite synapse. By this way, recent discoveries made possible to change perspective regarding the neuro-centric view of chronic neurodegenerative disorders, expanding the horizon to new players involved in the physiological and/or pathologic processes that take place in CNS. Better understanding the contribution of non-neuronal cells to these processes will be crucial for the development of new therapeutic approaches to counteract neurodegeneration. Moving from these assumptions, my studies focused on evaluating the role of glial cells in inducing and triggering the inflammatory processes during neurodegeneration and, in particular, on the events that lead these cells to an activated state named reactive gliosis. Moreover, the consequences caused by these processes on neuronal survival, and in a macroscopic manner, on learning and memory, were evaluated. To achieve such goals, I worked with different preclinical models of AD, both in vitro and in vivo, attempting to recreate at best the pathological hallmarks of pathology. In addition, since the crucial role of glial cells in the maintenance of brain homeostasis and their close connection with neuronal functioning and survival, the action of different molecules on neuroinflammation, as well as on neuronal survival, were tested.