Effects of glucocorticoids in depression: Role of astrocytes

Pranav Chintamani Joshi; Sugato Benerjee; Pranav Chintamani Joshi; Sugato Benerjee

doi:10.3934/Neuroscience.2018.3.200

AIMS Neuroscience

2018, Volume 5, Issue 3: 200-210. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2018.3.200

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Review

Effects of glucocorticoids in depression: Role of astrocytes

Pranav Chintamani Joshi ,
Sugato Benerjee ^,

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India

Received: 21 May 2018 Accepted: 22 August 2018 Published: 28 August 2018

Astrocytes or astroglia are heterogeneous cells, similar to neurons, that have different properties in different brain regions. The implications of steroid hormones on glial cells and stress-related pathologies have been studied previously. Glucocorticoids (GCs) that are released in response to stress have been shown to be deleterious to neurons in various brain regions. Further, in the light of the effect of GCs on astrocytes, several reports have shown the crucial role of glia. Still, much remains to be done to understand the stress-astrocytes-glucocorticoid interactions associated with the pathological consequences of various CNS disorders. This review is an attempt to summarize the effects of GCs and stress on astrocytes and its implications in depression.
- anxiety,
- astrocytes,
- depression,
- glucocorticoids,
- stress
Citation: Pranav Chintamani Joshi, Sugato Benerjee. Effects of glucocorticoids in depression: Role of astrocytes[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2018, 5(3): 200-210. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2018.3.200

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Abstract

Astrocytes or astroglia are heterogeneous cells, similar to neurons, that have different properties in different brain regions. The implications of steroid hormones on glial cells and stress-related pathologies have been studied previously. Glucocorticoids (GCs) that are released in response to stress have been shown to be deleterious to neurons in various brain regions. Further, in the light of the effect of GCs on astrocytes, several reports have shown the crucial role of glia. Still, much remains to be done to understand the stress-astrocytes-glucocorticoid interactions associated with the pathological consequences of various CNS disorders. This review is an attempt to summarize the effects of GCs and stress on astrocytes and its implications in depression.

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