Foundations and implications of astrocyte heterogeneity during brain development and disease

Astrocytes play crucial roles in regulating brain circuit formation and physiology. Recent technological advances have revealed unprecedented levels of astrocyte diversity encompassing molecular, morphological, and functional differences. This diversification is initiated during embryonic specification events and (in rodents) continues into the early postnatal period where it overlaps with peak synapse development and circuit refinement. In fact, several lines of evidence suggest astrocyte diversity both influences and is a consequence of molecular crosstalk among developing astrocytes and other cell types, notably neurons and their synapses. Neurological disease states exhibit additional layers of astro-cyte heterogeneity, which could help shed light on these cells' key pathological roles. This review highlights recent advances in clarifying astrocyte heterogeneity and molecular/cellular crosstalk and identifies key outstanding questions.

Automated summary

Astrocytes have diverse roles in regulating brain circuit formation and physiology. Recent advancements have revealed a high level of diversity in astrocytes, including molecular, morphological, and functional differences. This diversification begins during embryonic specification events and continues into the early postnatal period, overlapping with synapse development and circuit refinement. There is evidence of molecular crosstalk among astrocytes, neurons, and synapses, suggesting that astrocyte diversity is influenced by and influences this crosstalk. Understanding astrocyte heterogeneity is vital for studying neurological diseases.