Edited by
B. Castellano López, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Campus de Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
M. Nieto-Sampedro, Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida del Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain
Description
Although knowledge of the development and differentiation of glial cells has significantly increased in recent years, there are still
many questions unanswered. The first section of the book is devoted to this very active topic and includes contributions on Schwann
cells, oligodendrocytes, astroglia and microglia.
The second section of the book covers cellular interactions, the role they play on
myelination and remyelination, how these interactions take place and the molecules involved.
The third section of this volume focuses
on the interactions of neurons with glial cells and their role in brain function. Neuron-glia cross talk appears to be fundamental for
synaptic transmission and several chapters in this section address this topic.
The topic of how glial cells react to brain injury
and how they participate in neuroprotection and brain repair is covered in section four of this book. As our knowledge about the molecules
involved in the regenerative properties of glia increases, new avenues are open for the use of genetically modified glia with therapeutic
purposes.
The final section of the book is devoted to therapeutic approaches to tumours, viral and prion infections. Gene therapy
is a promising approach for the treatment of gliomas, one of the most devastating forms of cancer. A chapter on prion diseases and microglia
addresses a question of tremendous actuality, since prion diseases in cows is at this moment the major veterinary problem in Europe and
has created a considerable social alarm.
Audience:
Neuroscientists.
