Nelda Antonovaite

1 Introduction Astrocytes play a crucial role in the regulation of fluid flow in the brain. They form specialized compartments called endfeet, which surround the entire brain microvasculature (Mathiisen et al. 2010). Endfeet are equipped with channels, pumps and membrane proteins essential for brain ion and water homeostasis.

Abstract Loss of function of the astrocyte protein MLC1 causes Megalencephalic Leukoencephalopathy with subcortical Cysts (MLC), a leukodystrophy characterized by white matter edema and slow neurological deterioration. MLC1 dysfunction leads to swelling of perivascular astrocyte endfeet and an impaired attachment of endfeet to blood vessels.

New Results View ORCID ProfileNelda Antonovaite, Lianne A. Hulshof, Elly M. Hol, Wytse J. Wadman, Davide Iannuzzi doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.11.089144 Abstract There is growing evidence that mechanical factors affect brain functioning. However, brain components responsible for regulating the physiological mechanical environment and causing mechanical alterations during maturation are not completely understood.