Title:Approaches of the Transcriptomic Analysis in Astrocytes: Potential Pharmacological Targets
Volume: 23
Issue: 28
Author(s): George E. Barreto *, Rosa M. Gomez, Rosa Helena Bustos, Diego A. Forero, Gjumrakch Aliev, Vadim V. Tarasov, Nagendra S. Yarla, Valentina Echeverria and Janneth Gonzalez
Affiliation:
- Departamento de Nutricion y Bioquimica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota D.C,Colombia
Keywords:
Astrocytes, transcriptome methods, brain, neurological disorders, central nervous system, blood brain barrier.
Abstract: Astrocytes are important glial cells involved in the ionic regulation of the extracellular fluid in the
Central Nervous System (CNS), the formation of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and the support to neurons for the
maintenance of the Krebs cycle intermediaries. Even though these cells are known to be important for the brain
functioning, several of their functions and their development have not been fully elucidated. In this context, identifying
the algorithms used for their analysis plays a pivotal role in the development of new strategies in the study
of astrocytes. The main objective of this review is to summarize the techniques that have helped to obtain transcriptomic
data in astrocytes and the new algorithms that were used to perform the analysis of experimental data,
elucidating new studies in which these had been used. We also highlight the current transcriptomics approaches
targeting astrocytes function as a possible target for pharmacological interventions.