Emerging Roles for Aberrant Astrocytic Calcium Signals in Parkinson’s Disease
Eric A. Bancroft, Rahul Srinivasan
Abstract
Astrocytes display a plethora of spontaneous Ca 2+ signals that modulate vital functions of the central nervous system (CNS). This suggests that astrocytic Ca 2+ signals also contribute to pathological processes in the CNS. In this context, the molecular mechanisms by which aberrant astrocytic Ca 2+ signals trigger dopaminergic neuron loss during Parkinson’s disease (PD) are only beginning to emerge. Here, we provide an evidence-based perspective on potential mechanisms by which aberrant astrocytic Ca 2+ signals can trigger dysfunction in three distinct compartments of the brain, viz. , neurons, microglia, and the blood brain barrier, thereby leading to PD. We envision that the coming decades will unravel novel mechanisms by which aberrant astrocytic Ca 2+ signals contribute to PD and other neurodegenerative processes in the CNS.