Glia cell in cell culture from neonatal mouse brain, green: glia cell, red peroxisome (Courtesy of Max-Planck-Institute for experimental medicine, Goettingen, Germany).

Glia cells have been known to play a protective role for the cells of the nervous system, the neurons. Until now glia cells were known as myelin structures which form the layer around the axons, the connections between nerve cells. Likewise an isolation in an electrical cable the myelin which consists of gliacells gives electrical protection for the currents between axons and nerve cells. Researchers of the Max-Planck Institute in Goettingen, Germany, showed in genetically disabled lab mice (knock-out-mice) for the production of peroxisomes (small cell organells), that a lack of these peroxisomes in gliacells caused subsequently a degeneration in the axons.

 

The animals showed at the beginning a normal development. Eventually the degeneration of the axons led to severe damages in the brain with disorders in motor control of the animals. ALso effects on the immune system occured, which caused auto immune diseases and inflammatory symptoms which could be related to multiple sklerosis.

These new insights in the role of Glia cells may provide better therapies for this kind of neural diseases.

Source:

- Celia M. Kassmann, Corinna Lappe-Siefke, Myriam Baes, Britta Br

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