On astrocyte-neuron interactions: Broad insights from the striatum.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology
• Neurology

Background:

• Astrocytes' influence on neurons and neural circuits is a fundamental question in biology and medicine.
• The striatum serves as a model system for studying astrocyte-neuron interactions.
• Mechanisms of astrocyte influence are relevant across various brain regions and disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current understanding of how astrocytes affect neurons and neural circuits.
• To emphasize broadly applicable mechanisms and identify knowledge gaps.
• To highlight the potential of targeting astrocytes for therapeutic strategies in brain disorders.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental data spanning multiple biological scales.
• Focus on studies utilizing the striatum as a model nucleus.
• Analysis of homeostatic signaling and direct astrocyte-neuron interactions.

Main Results:

• Astrocytes regulate neural circuits via homeostatic signaling and direct interactions.
• In disease states, astrocytes contribute to malfunction through failed normal functions and maladaptive responses.
• Astrocytes act as endogenous cellular neuromodulators.

Conclusions:

• Astrocyte-neuron interactions are critical for normal physiology and behavior.
• These interactions are significantly involved in pathophysiology.
• Astrocytes represent a targetable component for regulating neural circuits in brain disorders.