The role of lipid in the regulation of neuroglial interactions

Abstract

Lipids are an extremely heterogeneous group of compounds, resulting in a wide variety of biological functions they perform. The traditional view of lipids as important structural components of the cell and compounds playing a trophic role is currently being supplemented by information on the possible participation of lipids in signaling, not only intracellular, but also intercellular. The review article discusses current data on the role of lipids and their metabolites formed in glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia) in the communication of these cells with neurons. In addition to the metabolic transformations of lipids in each type of glial cells, special attention is paid to the lipid signal molecules (phosphatidic acid, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, cholesterol, etc.) and the possibility of their participation in the implementation of the synaptic plasticity, as well as in other possible mechanisms associated with the realization of the neuroplasticity. The generalization of these new data can significantly expand knowledge about the regulatory functions of lipids in neuroglial relationships.