Abstract
Astrocytes are ubiquitous in the central nervous system (CNS). These cells possess thousands of individual processes, which extend out into the neuropil, interacting with neurons, other glia and blood vessels. Paralleling the wide diversity of their interactions, astrocytes have been reported to play key roles in supporting CNS structure, metabolism, blood-brain-barrier formation and control of vascular blood flow, axon guidance, synapse formation and modulation of synaptic transmission. Traditionally, astrocytes have been studied as a homogenous group of cells. However, recent studies have uncovered a surprising degree of heterogeneity in their development and function, in both the healthy and diseased brain. A better understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity is urgently needed to understand normal brain function, as well as the role of astrocytes in response to injury and disease.
Highlights
Astrocytes comprise the largest class of glial cells in the mammalian brain, and are essential for central nervous system (CNS) development and function [1]
The commoncell division, based on morphology, is between differential expression of common marker proteins, such as the intermediate filament GFAP and protoplasmic astrocytes found in the grey matter and fibrous astrocytes found in the white matter glutamate transporter GLAST [7,9]
Different populations of astrocytes have have beenbeen identified ininthe whitematter matter of the rodent andcord, spinal cord, based astrocytes identified thegrey grey and and white of the rodent brainbrain and spinal based on differences in morphology and expression
Summary
Astrocytes comprise the largest class of glial cells in the mammalian brain, and are essential for central nervous system (CNS) development and function [1]. While neurons are known to display extensive molecular and functional diversity even within brain regions [2,3], astrocytes have traditionally been discussed as a homogeneous cell type [1], despite the wide range of key CNS functions that astrocytes are thought to participate in. These include processes as diverse as promoting synapse formation, maintaining synaptic homeostasis (through the control of extracellular K+ levels and removal of neurotransmitters), modulation of synaptic transmission, formation and maintenance of the blood-brain-barrier, control of cerebral blood flow and immune response [1].
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