15. april 2007 

ASTROCYTE HYPOTHESIS FOR ME AND/OR FM

In Sweden, we have researchers in neurology, Hansson E. and Rönnbäck L, who
study astrocytes. Astrocytes are a part of the neural cells in the brain.
Their function is to form the blood brain barrier and to regulate exchange
between the extracellular space in the brain and the blood capillaries. They
do communicate with each other and with other cells.

There is a hypothesis that the astrocytes may be involved behind diseases
like ME and FM. I have not seen so much about this hypothesis in
international research about ME and I think it would be interesting to also
have this hypothesis presented in ME conferences. It is sure a part of the
ME puzzle that should not be forgotten about.

My suggestion is to invite the authors for the astrocyte hypothesis on ME
conferences. It shall indeed be mentioned that the researchers Hansson E.
and Rönnbäck L do concentrate on ME or FM, but they look at the Astrocyte
function in a more general sense.

/Kasper (http://goto.glocalnet.net/me_cfs)


REFERENCES:

[1] Rönnbäck L, Olsson T, Hansson E: Astrocyterna - hjärnans doldisar,
delaktiga i neurastena symtom. Läkartidningen (97) 24:2956-61, 2000.

[2] Hansson E., Rönnbäck L.: Glial neuronal signaling in the central nervous
system. FASEB J. 17, 341-348, 2003.
PMID: 12631574
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12631574&query_hl=13&itool=pubmed_docsum

[3] Hansson E., Rönnbäck L. 2004: Altered Neuronal-Glial Signaling in
Glutamatergic Transmission as a Unifying Mechanism in Chronic Pain and
Mental Fatigue. Neurochem Res.
Altered neuronal-glial signaling in glutamatergic transmission as a unifying
mechanism in chronic pain and mental fatigue.
Neurochem Res. 2004 May;29(5):989-96. Review.
PMID: 15139297
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15139297&query_hl=7&itool=pubmed_docsum

[4] Persson M, Sandberg M, Hansson E, Ronnback L.
Microglial glutamate uptake is coupled to glutathione synthesis and
glutamate release.
Eur J Neurosci. 2006 Aug;24(4):1063-70. Epub 2006 Aug 21.
PMID: 16925588
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16925588&query_hl=7&itool=pubmed_docsum

[5] Abbott NJ, Ronnback L, Hansson E.
Astrocyte-endothelial interactions at the blood-brain barrier.
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2006 Jan;7(1):41-53. Review.
PMID: 16371949
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16371949&query_hl=9&itool=pubmed_docsum

[6] Andersson AK, Ronnback L, Hansson E.
Lactate induces tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and
interleukin-1beta release in microglial- and astroglial-enriched primary
cultures.
J Neurochem. 2005 Jun;93(5):1327-33.
PMID: 15934951
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15934951&query_hl=9&itool=pubmed_docsum

[7]  Läkartidningen nr 14-15 2007 volym 104,
»Trött i hjärnan« osynligt handikapp som kan ge stora problem Lars Rönnbäck,
professor, överläkare i neurologi, Sahlgrenska
Universitetssjukhuset/Sahlgrenska, Göteborg
http://www.lakartidningen.se/engine.php?articleId=6451 (with summary in
English at the end)
http://www.lakartidningen.se/store/articlepdf/6/6451/LKT0714s1137_1142.pdf