Astrocytes and Alcohol Throughout the Lifespan

Evidence for involvement of astrocytes in several neurodegenerative disorders and in drug addiction has been emerging over the last 2 decades, but only in recent years have astrocytes been investigated for their roles in alcohol use disorder (AUD). As a result, there is a need to evaluate the existing preclinical literature that supports the involvement of astrocytes in the effects of alcohol exposure. Here, we review emerging evidence about responses of astrocytes to alcohol and the contributions of astrocytes to the development of AUD. We review studies of single-cell RNA sequencing with a focus on alcohol and astrocyte heterogeneity, astrocyte reactivity, and the role of astrocytes in remodeling the extracellular matrix. Effects of alcohol on astrocyte-modulated synaptic transmission are also discussed, with an emphasis on studies that have never been reviewed before. Because astrocytes play essential roles in brain development, we review recent research on the role of astrocytes in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which may also shed light on fetal development of psychiatric disorders that have a high prevalence in individuals affected by FASD. Finally, this review highlights gaps in knowledge about astrocyte biology and alcohol that need further research. Particularly, there is a dire need to identify astrocyte subpopulations and molecules that are susceptible to alcohol exposure and may be targets for therapeutic intervention.