Astrocyte Biology in CNS Inflammatory Diseases: A Clinical-Translational Perspective

Astrocytes are the main structural cells of the brain and spinal cord. Tessellating throughout the entire tissue, these highly arborized cells form intimate connections with each other and with essentially all other cell types in the CNS, including neurons, other glia such as microglia and oligodendrocyte-lineage cells, blood vessel cells, pial epithelium, and peripheral immune cells, when present. However, far more than inert cells gluing the CNS together, astrocytes are diverse and dynamic. Through their connections, they adapt and respond to local tissue cues, influencing CNS homeostasis and pathology. Yet, astrocyte biology is only superficially appreciated in clinical spheres. In this article, we briefly review some of the major facets of astrocyte biology as relevant to various neuroinflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein autoimmune encephalitis, and other neuroimmune conditions, highlighting their clinical and biological significance.