Astrocyte-immune cell interactions in physiology and pathology

Astrocytes play both physiological and pathological roles in maintaining central nervous system (CNS) function. Here, we review the varied functions of astrocytes and how these might change in subsets of reactive astrocytes. We review the current understanding of astrocyte interactions with microglia and the vasculature and protective barriers in the central nervous system as well as highlight recent insights into physiologic and reactive astrocyte sub-states identified by transcriptional profiling. Our goal is to stimulate inquiry into how these molecular identifiers link to specific functional changes in astrocytes and to define the implications of these heterogeneous molecular and functional changes in brain function and pathology. Defining these complex interactions has the potential to yield new therapies in CNS injury, infection, and disease.

Automated summary

This article reviews the various functions of astrocytes and their changes in reactive states, emphasizing interactions between astrocytes and microglia, vasculature, and protective barriers in the CNS, as well as discussing recent insights into different sub-states of astrocytes identified by transcriptional profiling. The goal is to stimulate research on how molecular identifiers link to specific functional changes in astrocytes and to define the implications of these heterogeneous molecular and functional changes in brain function and pathology, with the potential to lead to new therapies in CNS injury, infection, and disease.