Postnatal activation of TLR4 in astrocytes promotes excitatory synaptogenesis in hippocampal neurons.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytes are critical in synapse development, and their dysfunction in crucial developmental stages leads to serious neurodevelopmental diseases, including seizures and epilepsy. Immune challenges not only affect brain development, but also promote seizure generation and epileptogenesis, implying immune activation is one of the key factors linking seizures and epilepsy to abnormal brain development. In this study, we report that activating astrocytes by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenges in the second postnatal week promotes excitatory synapse development, leading to enhanced seizure susceptibility in mice. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation in astrocytes increased astrocytic extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and phospho-Erk1/2 levels in a myeloid differentia

SUBMITTER: Shen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5147000 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature