Astrocyte-synapse interactions and cell adhesion molecules

Abstract

Astrocytes are increasingly gaining attention as a major player in regulating brain functions. Not only are astrocytes important for their supporting roles in maintaining optimal neuronal activity, they also dynamically interact with synapses through their highly ramified morphology to directly influence information processing by the neural circuits and the behaviours that depend on it. Here, we take a close look at astrocyte-synapse interactions involved in the coordination of synaptogenesis and astrocyte maturation in the developing brain through to the contribution of astrocytes in synaptic plasticity in the adult brain, and end with a perspective on astrocyte function in behaviours and diseases. In particular, we focus on the roles of synapse adhesion proteins. While cell adhesion proteins that form a bridge between the presynaptic and the postsynaptic compartments have been extensively studied, recent reports highlighting the striking participation of astrocytic cell adhesion proteins in synapse formation and function underscores the importance of reconsidering the conventional neurocentric view of synaptic adhesive interactions and the underlying logic.

Keywords: PAP motility; astrocyte morphogenesis; dendritic spine; gliotransmission; perisynaptic astrocyte process (PAP); synapse formation; synaptic plasticity; territory; tiling; tripartite synapse.