(ang.):Astrocyte brain cells appear to be functionally less supportive of neuronal activity in people with bipolar disorder, according to a study involving human induced pluripotent stem cells.
The inflammation-promoting molecule interleukin-6 (IL-6), secreted by astrocytes, may contribute to the malfunction, researchers found in the study, published online in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
“While mild inflammation can be beneficial for many neural processes, the overproduction of IL-6 may worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder and may be an important therapeutic target,” said Maria Carolina Marchetto, PhD, a senior study author from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the University of California, San Diego.
https://www.psychcongress.com/article/a ... y-suggests
