Genetically encoded calcium indicators and astrocyte calcium microdomains
- PMID: 23264008
- DOI: 10.1177/1073858412468794
Genetically encoded calcium indicators and astrocyte calcium microdomains
Abstract
The discovery of intracellular Ca(2+) signals within astrocytes has changed our view of how these ubiquitous cells contribute to brain function. Classically thought merely to serve supportive functions, astrocytes are increasingly thought to respond to, and regulate, neurons. The use of organic Ca(2+) indicator dyes such as Fluo-4 and Fura-2 has proved instrumental in the study of astrocyte physiology. However, progress has recently been accelerated by the use of cytosolic and membrane targeted genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs). Herein, we review these recent findings, discuss why studying astrocyte Ca(2+) signals is important to understand brain function, and summarize work that led to the discovery of TRPA1 channel-mediated near-membrane Ca(2+) signals in astrocytes and their indirect neuromodulatory roles at inhibitory synapses in the CA1 stratum radiatum region of the hippocampus. We suggest that the use of membrane-targeted and cytosolic GECIs holds great promise to explore the diversity of Ca(2+) signals within single astrocytes and also to study diversity of function for astrocytes in different parts of the brain.
Keywords: GAT-3; GCaMP3; GCaMP5G; GECI; TRPA1; astrocyte; branch; branchlet; calcium; endfoot; leaflet; process.
Similar articles
-
Ca2+ transients in astrocyte fine processes occur via Ca2+ influx in the adult mouse hippocampus.Glia. 2016 Dec;64(12):2093-2103. doi: 10.1002/glia.23042. Epub 2016 Aug 1. Glia. 2016. PMID: 27479868
-
Local energy on demand: Are 'spontaneous' astrocytic Ca2+-microdomains the regulatory unit for astrocyte-neuron metabolic cooperation?Brain Res Bull. 2018 Jan;136:54-64. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2017.04.011. Epub 2017 Apr 24. Brain Res Bull. 2018. PMID: 28450076 Review.
-
TRPA1 channels regulate astrocyte resting calcium and inhibitory synapse efficacy through GAT-3.Nat Neurosci. 2011 Dec 11;15(1):70-80. doi: 10.1038/nn.3000. Nat Neurosci. 2011. PMID: 22158513 Free PMC article.
-
Imaging intracellular Ca²⁺ signals in striatal astrocytes from adult mice using genetically-encoded calcium indicators.J Vis Exp. 2014 Nov 19;(93):e51972. doi: 10.3791/51972. J Vis Exp. 2014. PMID: 25490346 Free PMC article.
-
Calcium Signals in Astrocyte Microdomains, a Decade of Great Advances.Front Cell Neurosci. 2021 Jun 7;15:673433. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2021.673433. eCollection 2021. Front Cell Neurosci. 2021. PMID: 34163329 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Stroke and the neurovascular unit: glial cells, sex differences, and hypertension.Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2019 Mar 1;316(3):C325-C339. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00333.2018. Epub 2019 Jan 2. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2019. PMID: 30601672 Free PMC article.
-
Rapid stimulus-evoked astrocyte Ca2+ elevations and hemodynamic responses in mouse somatosensory cortex in vivo.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Nov 26;110(48):E4678-87. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1310065110. Epub 2013 Nov 11. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013. PMID: 24218625 Free PMC article.
-
Ca(2+) signaling in astrocytes and its role in ischemic stroke.Adv Neurobiol. 2014;11:189-211. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-08894-5_10. Adv Neurobiol. 2014. PMID: 25236730 Free PMC article.
-
Deciphering the star codings: astrocyte manipulation alters mouse behavior.Exp Mol Med. 2020 Jul;52(7):1028-1038. doi: 10.1038/s12276-020-0468-z. Epub 2020 Jul 15. Exp Mol Med. 2020. PMID: 32665584 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Differential subcellular Ca2+ signaling in a highly specialized subpopulation of astrocytes.Exp Neurol. 2015 Mar;265:59-68. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.12.014. Epub 2014 Dec 24. Exp Neurol. 2015. PMID: 25542978 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Miscellaneous
