Astrocytes as Therapeutic Targets in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract

Astrocytes play crucial roles in central nervous system homeostasis, regulating neuronal and synaptic activity, modulating immune responses, and preserving the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Recent genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies have highlighted astrocytes as key players in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, important questions remain unanswered: How are astrocyte functions changed across different neurodegenerative disorders? Does astrocyte reactivity contribute to neurodegenerative cascades? Can astrocyte-specific processes be targeted for therapy? This review summarizes recent findings on the potential contribution of astrocytes to disease onset and progression, with a focus on their therapeutic potential. It also explores the application of advanced omics technologies to unravel astrocyte complexity, along with the use of emerging murine models and human-induced pluripotent stem cells based systems to explore astrocyte involvement in disease mechanisms.