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A Commentary on the Need for 3D-Biologically Relevant In Vitro Environments to Investigate Astrocytes and Their Role in Central Nervous System Inflammation

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Abstract

Astrocytes execute essential functions in the healthy CNS, whilst also being implicated as a limitation to functional regeneration and repair after injury. They respond to injury to minimize damage to healthy tissue whilst also attempting to seal the broken blood-brain-barrier, however, they impede recovery if they are persistent and form a permanent scar in the injured brain. As such, it is of great importance to understand the mechanism underlying the astrocytic response to injury, and this understanding is currently limited by the in vitro environments available to scientists. Biomaterials such as nanofibres and hydrogels offer great potential for the development of superior, 3D cell culture environments in which to study astrocyte behavior and phenotype. The implementation of such in vitro environments with a particularly interdisciplinary approach can improve the field’s understanding of astrocytes, their role in central nervous system inflammation, and elucidate potential strategies to achieve functional regeneration.

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Acknowledgments

FLM was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award; RJW was funded via an Alfred Deakin Research Fellowship; MKH was supported by an NHMRC Research Fellowship (APP1020401); DRN was supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (APP1050684).

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Correspondence to D. R. Nisbet.

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Special Issue: In Honor of Philip Beart.

M. K. Horne and D. R. Nisbet have contributed equally to this work.

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Maclean, F.L., Williams, R.J., Horne, M.K. et al. A Commentary on the Need for 3D-Biologically Relevant In Vitro Environments to Investigate Astrocytes and Their Role in Central Nervous System Inflammation. Neurochem Res 41, 589–592 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1697-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1697-8

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