Effect of Steroid Hormones and Growth Factors in primary Astrocyte Cultures

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This study provides evidence of the intertwined dialogue between neuroactive molecules such as dexamethasone and both “competence” and “progression” growth factors (GFs) in regulating astrocyte cytoskeletal proteins and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 expression during astroglial cell proliferation and differentiation processes. Because increasing evidence suggests that these well-known neuroactive molecules exert significant neuroprotective effects against a variety of neurodegenerative pathologies, these findings underscore an interesting neurosteroid–GF cross-talk that might have significant implications for future therapeutic approachs to neurologic disorders associated with astrogliosis.

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