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Editorial
. 2024 Apr;14(4):e1642.
doi: 10.1002/ctm2.1642.

Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of tonic gamma-aminobutyric acid from reactive astrocytes in brain diseases

Wuhyun Koh  1 , C Justin Lee  1
Affiliations
Editorial

Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of tonic gamma-aminobutyric acid from reactive astrocytes in brain diseases

Wuhyun Koh et al. Clin Transl Med. 2024 Apr.
No abstract available

Keywords: MAO‐B; astrocyte; putrescine; tonic GABA.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
'Tonic GABA'ergic reactive astrocyte and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis mechanisms from astrocytes in pathological brain and related brain diseases with therapeutic targets. (A) In the healthy brain, astrocytes are in a resting state, whereas in the pathological brain, astrocytes change to a reactive state with increased monoamine oxidase B (MAO‐B) expression and GABA synthesis. As a result, GABA release from astrocytes increases and leads to an increase in GABA tone in pathological brain regions. (B) The reactive astrocyte increases GABA tone in the pathologic region, leading to the development of pathologic symptoms. The reactive astrocyte primarily utilizes MAO‐B enzymes in the mitochondria to degrade putrescine to synthesize GABA. Therefore, inhibition of MAO‐B can be a competent treatment for a variety of diseases that can be mediated by reactive astrocytes (Parkinson's disease, stroke, depression, obesity and Alzheimer's disease), and may also be a potential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder and ageing. In addition, ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1), which can make putrescine, a precursor for GABA, from ornithine in the urea cycle, has been shown to be a competent treatment for Alzheimer's disease and may be a potential treatment for other MAO‐B‐related brain disorders in general.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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