Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction and Astrocyte Senescence as Reciprocal Drivers of Neuropathology in Aging

As the most abundant cell types in the brain, astrocytes form a tissue-wide signaling network that is responsible for maintaining brain homeostasis and regulating various brain activities. Here, we review some of the essential functions that astrocytes perform in supporting neurons, modulating the immune response, and regulating and maintaining the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Given their importance in brain health, it follows that astrocyte dysfunction has detrimental effects. Indeed, dysfunctional astrocytes are implicated in age-related neuropathology and participate in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review two mechanisms by which astrocytes mediate neuropathology in the aging brain. First, age-associated blood-brain barrier dysfunction (BBBD) causes the hyperactivation of TGF beta signaling in astrocytes, which elicits a pro-inflammatory and epileptogenic phenotype. Over time, BBBD-associated astrocyte dysfunction results in hippocampal and cortical neural hyperexcitability and cognitive deficits. Second, senescent astrocytes accumulate in the brain with age and exhibit a decreased functional capacity and the secretion of senescent-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors, which contribute to neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity. Both BBBD and senescence progressively increase during aging and are associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative disease, but the relationship between the two has not yet been established. Thus, we discuss the potential relationship between BBBD, TGF beta hyperactivation, and senescence with respect to astrocytes in the context of aging and disease and identify future areas of investigation in the field.

Automated summary

As the most abundant cell type in the brain, astrocytes play essential roles in maintaining brain homeostasis, regulating immune response, and protecting the blood-brain barrier. However, dysfunction of astrocytes is closely associated with age-related neuropathology and neurodegenerative diseases. This review discusses two mechanisms by which astrocytes mediate neuropathology in the aging brain – age-associated blood-brain barrier dysfunction and senescence-induced neuroinflammation. Understanding the relationship between these mechanisms and astrocytes is crucial for exploring the aging process and neurodegenerative diseases.