Abstract
Astrocytes are glial cells that perform several fundamental physiological functions within the brain. They can control neuronal activity and levels of ions and neurotransmitters, and release several factors that modulate the brain environment. Over the past few decades, our knowledge of astrocytes and their functions has rapidly evolved. Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by selective degeneration of neurons, increased glial activation, and glial dysfunction. Given the significant role played by astrocytes, there is growing interest in their potential therapeutic role. However, defining their contribution to neurodegeneration is more complex than was previously thought. This review summarizes the main functions of astrocytes and their involvement in neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting their neurotoxic and neuroprotective ability.
Graphical Abstract
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cne.24040] [PMID: 27187682]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00401-009-0619-8] [PMID: 20012068]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-452-0_3] [PMID: 22144298]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4707-08.2009] [PMID: 19279265]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00429-017-1383-5] [PMID: 28280934]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a020388] [PMID: 25818565]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.19-16-06897.1999] [PMID: 10436047]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/5692] [PMID: 10195197]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jnr.10197] [PMID: 11948659]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0166-2236(98)01349-6] [PMID: 10322493]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13064-018-0104-y] [PMID: 29712572]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2017.00300] [PMID: 29021743]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00059] [PMID: 30941031]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3956-16.2017] [PMID: 28821665]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-14198-8] [PMID: 32139688]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/glia.20845] [PMID: 19191334]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2017.06.029] [PMID: 28712653]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.11.030] [PMID: 27939582]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41386-018-0151-4] [PMID: 30054584]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a020370] [PMID: 25663667]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.291.5504.657] [PMID: 11158678]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/glia.22713] [PMID: 25042347]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2017.05.006] [PMID: 28570864]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/JP270988] [PMID: 27381164]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12776] [PMID: 24270812]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11064-021-03317-x] [PMID: 33837868]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.11.010] [PMID: 30458223]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/glia.23908] [PMID: 32955153]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0006-8993(00)02825-0] [PMID: 11063991]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2014.00103] [PMID: 24847203]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2013.00102] [PMID: 23966981]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnsyn.2018.00045] [PMID: 30542276]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4255-14.2015] [PMID: 25834045]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jnr.23229] [PMID: 23633387]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0762-10.2010] [PMID: 21068334]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2018.19] [PMID: 29515192]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.2009.97] [PMID: 19675565]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1096485] [PMID: 15232110]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/hsz-2015-0295] [PMID: 26812787]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/689524] [PMID: 21904646]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1432-1327.2000.01597.x] [PMID: 10931173]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/cdd.2015.49] [PMID: 25909891]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2014.01.014] [PMID: 24457173]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2020.07.004] [PMID: 32819810]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41593-020-00783-4] [PMID: 33589835]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2012.06.001] [PMID: 22749718]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature21029] [PMID: 28099414]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2121-13.2013] [PMID: 23904622]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0896-6273(00)80781-3] [PMID: 10399936]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3547-03.2004] [PMID: 14999065]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0361-9230(94)90151-1] [PMID: 7532097]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-1136(199905)26:3<191::AID-GLIA1>3.0.CO;2-#] [PMID: 10340760]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1592-15.2015] [PMID: 26468200]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13174-w] [PMID: 29070875]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12035-017-0767-0] [PMID: 28965325]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00702-009-0288-8] [PMID: 19680595]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.04.017] [PMID: 32289328]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M112.340513] [PMID: 22532571]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/glia.22963] [PMID: 26992135]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/15548627.2014.981920] [PMID: 25484086]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1402449111] [PMID: 25136135]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature18928] [PMID: 27466127]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s13380-012-0040-y] [PMID: 23243501]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.03.002] [PMID: 30851309]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15811]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/EBC20220075] [PMID: 36805653]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2015.00278] [PMID: 26283915]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2023.102732] [PMID: 37247606]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202211044] [PMID: 36795453]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2015.03.025] [PMID: 25843667]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncpneuro0355] [PMID: 17117171]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.04.003] [PMID: 25930681]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0051-5] [PMID: 29892066]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrn3898] [PMID: 25891508]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature17623] [PMID: 27027288]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn1876] [PMID: 17435755]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt.1957] [PMID: 21832997]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1086071] [PMID: 14526083]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2689-13.2014] [PMID: 24501372]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1314085111] [PMID: 24379375]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.01.011] [PMID: 24508385]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1103141108] [PMID: 21969586]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/glia.23298] [PMID: 29380416]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1110689108] [PMID: 22010221]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2016.07.052] [PMID: 27473942]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2007806117] [PMID: 33127758]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.11.026] [PMID: 31787569]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17514-9] [PMID: 32719333]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cells11071186] [PMID: 35406750]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200508072] [PMID: 16365166]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2015.5] [PMID: 27188817]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddq212] [PMID: 20494921]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddt036] [PMID: 23372043]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0911503106] [PMID: 20018729]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M109.083287] [PMID: 20145253]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn.3691] [PMID: 24686787]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac068] [PMID: 35298632]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.410410514] [PMID: 9153527]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddt242] [PMID: 23720495]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03515.x] [PMID: 16300642]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00441-010-0995-3] [PMID: 20602186]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2019.03.004] [PMID: 30930170]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.2014.110] [PMID: 24938402]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddx394] [PMID: 29121340]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2019.03.001] [PMID: 30853569]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms21103609] [PMID: 32443829]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12974-020-01965-4] [PMID: 33023623]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3639.2007.00111.x] [PMID: 18093249]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.077] [PMID: 22410294]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0168-16.2016] [PMID: 27559163]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1637-10.2010] [PMID: 21048129]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.05137.x] [PMID: 18086127]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1750-1326-6-71] [PMID: 21985529]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw8546] [PMID: 31619545]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109308] [PMID: 34233199]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2017.04.001] [PMID: 28527591]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2017.13] [PMID: 28332488]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00401-007-0244-3] [PMID: 17576580]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2047-9158-2-20] [PMID: 24093918]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M109.081125] [PMID: 20071342]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12868-015-0192-0] [PMID: 26346361]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/JPD-140410] [PMID: 25061061]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1504-06.2006] [PMID: 16971520]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-6606-3-12] [PMID: 20409326]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2110746119] [PMID: 35858361]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awh054] [PMID: 14662519]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2008.09.013] [PMID: 18930142]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12031-012-9904-4] [PMID: 23065353]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2015.03.003] [PMID: 25766679]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20180297] [PMID: 30185433]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41531-021-00175-w] [PMID: 33785762]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.009] [PMID: 30704681]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/pr800667a] [PMID: 19072283]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.110.087031] [PMID: 22213821]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1742-2094-2-22] [PMID: 16212664]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awr104] [PMID: 21616968]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41593-020-00735-y] [PMID: 33199896]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.10.016] [PMID: 29153989]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/glia.23759] [PMID: 31799735]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0006-8993(03)02361-8] [PMID: 12706236]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/JAD-2012-120469] [PMID: 22647260]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.08.022] [PMID: 18790019]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1169096] [PMID: 19251629]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6417-10.2011] [PMID: 21451035]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fj.201600756R] [PMID: 27511944]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2012.263] [PMID: 23296339]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddx155] [PMID: 28444230]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.024]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nm1058] [PMID: 15195085]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2017.11.013] [PMID: 29216449]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/4fbca54a2028b]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-1136(199911)28:2<85:AID-GLIA1>3.0.CO;2-Y] [PMID: 10533053]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2018.08.010] [PMID: 30138641]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms20030598] [PMID: 30704073]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/WNR.0000000000000911] [PMID: 29120942]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/9070341] [PMID: 30356412]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.05.008] [PMID: 28495373]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.11.015] [PMID: 24291464]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15610] [PMID: 35411603]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jnc.14476] [PMID: 29851427]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3018-19.2021] [PMID: 33514677]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.12.022] [PMID: 21199667]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000495211] [PMID: 30699428]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI77398] [PMID: 29106385]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2020.101039] [PMID: 32105849]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/glia.23839] [PMID: 32415886]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00401-018-1903-2] [PMID: 30191401]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105753] [PMID: 35569719]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40035-020-00190-6] [PMID: 32345341]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01572] [PMID: 36787643]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/JAD-180708] [PMID: 30452416]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mds.27077] [PMID: 28631864]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1423-0127-17-62] [PMID: 20663216]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70222-4] [PMID: 25297012]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddr513] [PMID: 22072391]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4099-08.2008] [PMID: 19074031]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056625] [PMID: 23418589]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/glia.23741] [PMID: 31670864]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27702-w] [PMID: 35013236]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2303809120] [PMID: 37549281]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt.1515] [PMID: 19098898]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2323-12.2012] [PMID: 23152597]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076092] [PMID: 24098426]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2013.00106] [PMID: 23847471]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41434-020-0172-6] [PMID: 32632267]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2018.04.008] [PMID: 29649621]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cns.12312] [PMID: 25119316]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11064-012-0930-y] [PMID: 23224777]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jat.4037] [PMID: 32686875]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.7b01084] [PMID: 29638135]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cns.14179] [PMID: 36949616]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13024-016-0098-z] [PMID: 27176225]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/JAD-170278] [PMID: 28826183]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.25172] [PMID: 29406582]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dadm.2018.11.002] [PMID: 31032394]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5699-09.2010] [PMID: 20484626]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1418-17.2017] [PMID: 28893927]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M112.425066] [PMID: 23592792]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00574] [PMID: 31231184]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/JAD-150317] [PMID: 26444769]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.7150/thno.70951] [PMID: 35664060]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.01452] [PMID: 31849688]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2021.104955] [PMID: 33412233]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24922] [PMID: 34259342]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201302878] [PMID: 24477866]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn.2210] [PMID: 18931666]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.05.017] [PMID: 25254338]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01956-3] [PMID: 36064599]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14855-3] [PMID: 32107381]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2388-4] [PMID: 32581380]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2013.12.001] [PMID: 24360883]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.09.005] [PMID: 34582787]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.295925] [PMID: 33063738]