Publications by authors named "N Wakida"
Article Synopsis
- Recent studies show that astrocytes are not only supportive cells in the brain but also play active roles in synapse modification and clearing debris, with implications for Huntington's disease (HD) progression.* -
- This study aims to investigate whether the ability of astrocytes to engulf cellular debris (phagocytosis) is impaired in HD mouse models (R6/2 and Q175).* -
- Findings reveal a significant reduction in phagocytic activity in astrocytes from HD models, with changes in LC3 protein's localization suggesting it plays a role in the phagocytosis process.*
No study has assessed the association between no health checkup and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). This retrospective cohort study, including 69,147 adults aged ≥ 40 years in Japan who were insured by the National Health Insurance and the Late-Stage Medical Care System for the Elderly, assessed the associations of kidney tests at medical facilities and health checkups with incident ESKD. The main exposure was the histories of kidney tests using dipstick urinalysis and/or serum creatinine measurement at medical facilities and checkups in the past year: "checkups," "no kidney test (without checkup)," and "kidney tests (without checkup)" groups.
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- The paper introduces a new biophotonic work station designed to study cellular injury using Laser-Induced Shockwaves (LIS) and a Quantitative Phase Microscope (QPM) for real-time measurement of cellular dynamics.
- This system can perform different microscopy techniques like Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast, but QPM reveals subtle changes in cells that other methods may miss.
- The researchers apply this system to study traumatic brain injury effects on astrocytes, measuring precise changes in cell thickness and testing various culture media to ensure the method’s reproducibility.*
Fluid Shear Stress Enhances the Phagocytic Response of Astrocytes.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol
November 2020
Article Synopsis
- Astrocytes react to brain injury through a process called reactive astrogliosis, adjusting their actions based on the injury's severity.
- During this process, they perform phagocytosis to clear away debris from damaged cells.
- The study shows that astrocytes exposed to shear flow clean up debris faster than those in static conditions, indicating that their phagocytic response is influenced by mechanical forces.
The changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca]) following laser-induced cell injury in nearby cells were studied in primary mouse astrocytes selectively expressing the Ca sensitive GFAP-Cre Salsa6f fluorescent tandem protein, in an Ast1 astrocyte cell line, and in primary mouse astrocytes loaded with Fluo4. Astrocytes in these three systems exhibit distinct changes in [Ca] following induced death of nearby cells. Changes in [Ca] appear to result from release of Ca from intracellular organelles, as opposed to influx from the external medium.
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