The glymphatic system: methods of study, role in neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors

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Abstract

The glymphatic system is a newly discovered macroscopic system for the excretion of soluble proteins and metabolites of the central nervous system, first described in vivo in 2012. It is formed by aquaporin-4 proteins in the legs of astroglial cells and uses a system of perivascular tunnels. From the first description to the present day, many extensive studies of the glymphatic system have been conducted, but there are still many unresolved issues. Most of the work described the composition of the glymphatic system, and recently, the genetic apparatuses responsible for the functioning of functional units responsible for the stable functioning of the system have also been actively studied. To date, disorders in the work of the glymphatic system are considered as a risk factor for the development of age-related brain changes, neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as impaired recovery from injuries to the brain. Many studies have highlighted the relationship between glymphatic system dysfunction and neurodegeneration associated with traumatic brain injury. There is also a part of the work devoted to the role of glymphatic system in the development of peritumoral edema in tumors of brain. However, so far, there is insufficient data on the role of glymphatic system in the localization of primary and secondary brain tumors. The purpose of this review is to summarize the currently available results in the scientific community on the composition of glymphatic system, its visualization methods, and its role both in the normal state of the body and in pathological processes: traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases and malignant neoplasms of the brain.

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About the authors

Alexander I. Budko

National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”

Author for correspondence.
Email: Budko_AI@nrcki.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-3354-1646
SPIN-code: 2623-4530

Postgraduate Student

Russian Federation, Moscow

Anna A. Prokhorycheva

National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: Prokhorycheva_AA@nrcki.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0001-5226-0803
SPIN-code: 5543-4462

Postgraduate Student

Russian Federation, Moscow

Olga M. Ignatova

National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: Ignatova_OM@nrcki.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2763-3935
SPIN-code: 9352-3233

Research Laboratory Asistant

Russian Federation, Moscow

Yulia I. Vecherskaya

National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: Vecherskaya_YI@nrcki.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0000-2489-4588

PhD student

Russian Federation, Moscow

Stanislav A. Fokin

National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: Fokin_SA@nrcki.ru

MD, PhD, Director of the Kurchatov Сomplex of Medical Primatology

Russian Federation, Moscow

Mariya A. Pahomova

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: mariya.pahomova@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-4570-8056
SPIN-code: 3168-2170

Senior Research Associate, Research Center

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Andrey G. Vasiliev

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: avas7@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8539-7128
SPIN-code: 1985-4025

MD, PhD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Head of the Department of Pathological Physiology with a Course in Immunology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Alexander P. Trashkov

National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: Trashkov_AP@nrcki.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3441-0388
SPIN-code: 4231-1258

MD, PhD, Associate Professor

Russian Federation, Moscow

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