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Li M, Liu X, Zhou Y, Guan R, Zhu X, Zou Y, Zheng M, Luo W, Zhang J. Retarded astrogliogenesis in response to hypoxia is facilitated by downregulation of CIRBP. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 282:116710. [PMID: 39024953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The adverse impacts of chronic hypoxia on maternal and infant health at high altitudes warrant significant attention. However, effective protective measures against the resultant growth restrictions and neurodevelopmental disorders in infants and young children are still lacking. This study investigated the neurodevelopment of mice offspring under hypoxic conditions by exposing pregnant mice to a hypobaric oxygen chamber that simulated the hypobaric hypoxia at an altitude of 4000 m until 28 days after delivery. Our findings suggested that prolonged exposure to hypoxia might result in emotional abnormalities and social disorders in offspring. The significant reduction in astrogliogenesis was a characteristic feature associated with neurodevelopmental disorders induced by hypoxia. Further studies demonstrated that cold-induced RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) was a key transcriptional regulator in astrogliogenesis, which downregulated astrocytic differentiation under hypoxia through its crosstalk with the NFIA. Our study emphasized the crucial role of CIRBP in regulating astrogliogenesis and highlighted its potential as a promising target for therapeutic interventions in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, China
| | - Xinqin Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, China
| | - Ruili Guan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, China
| | - Xiaozheng Zhu
- Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Yuankang Zou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, China
| | - Mingze Zheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fourth Military Medical University, China
| | - Wenjing Luo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, China
| | - Jianbin Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, China.
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2
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Baldwin KT, Murai KK, Khakh BS. Astrocyte morphology. Trends Cell Biol 2024; 34:547-565. [PMID: 38180380 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes are predominant glial cells that tile the central nervous system (CNS). A cardinal feature of astrocytes is their complex and visually enchanting morphology, referred to as bushy, spongy, and star-like. A central precept of this review is that such complex morphological shapes evolved to allow astrocytes to contact and signal with diverse cells at a range of distances in order to sample, regulate, and contribute to the extracellular milieu, and thus participate widely in cell-cell signaling during physiology and disease. The recent use of improved imaging methods and cell-specific molecular evaluations has revealed new information on the structural organization and molecular underpinnings of astrocyte morphology, the mechanisms of astrocyte morphogenesis, and the contributions to disease states of reduced morphology. These insights have reignited interest in astrocyte morphological complexity as a cornerstone of fundamental glial biology and as a critical substrate for multicellular spatial and physiological interactions in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine T Baldwin
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Keith K Murai
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada.
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034, USA; Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034, USA.
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3
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Kim JH, Michiko N, Choi IS, Kim Y, Jeong JY, Lee MG, Jang IS, Suk K. Aberrant activation of hippocampal astrocytes causes neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in mice. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002687. [PMID: 38991663 PMCID: PMC11239238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Reactive astrocytes are associated with neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in diverse neuropathologies; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We used optogenetic and chemogenetic tools to identify the crucial roles of the hippocampal CA1 astrocytes in cognitive decline. Our results showed that repeated optogenetic stimulation of the hippocampal CA1 astrocytes induced cognitive impairment in mice and decreased synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP), which was accompanied by the appearance of inflammatory astrocytes. Mechanistic studies conducted using knockout animal models and hippocampal neuronal cultures showed that lipocalin-2 (LCN2), derived from reactive astrocytes, mediated neuroinflammation and induced cognitive impairment by decreasing the LTP through the reduction of neuronal NMDA receptors. Sustained chemogenetic stimulation of hippocampal astrocytes provided similar results. Conversely, these phenomena were attenuated by a metabolic inhibitor of astrocytes. Fiber photometry using GCaMP revealed a high level of hippocampal astrocyte activation in the neuroinflammation model. Our findings suggest that reactive astrocytes in the hippocampus are sufficient and required to induce cognitive decline through LCN2 release and synaptic modulation. This abnormal glial-neuron interaction may contribute to the pathogenesis of cognitive disturbances in neuroinflammation-associated brain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Hong Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Brain Science & Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 four KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Nakamura Michiko
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Sun Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Young Jeong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Maan-Gee Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Brain Science & Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Sung Jang
- Brain Science & Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungho Suk
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Brain Science & Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 four KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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4
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Chalmers N, Masouti E, Beckervordersandforth R. Astrocytes in the adult dentate gyrus-balance between adult and developmental tasks. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:982-991. [PMID: 38177351 PMCID: PMC11176073 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02386-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes, a major glial cell type in the brain, are indispensable for the integration, maintenance and survival of neurons during development and adulthood. Both life phases make specific demands on the molecular and physiological properties of astrocytes, and most research projects traditionally focus on either developmental or adult astrocyte functions. In most brain regions, the generation of brain cells and the establishment of neural circuits ends with postnatal development. However, few neurogenic niches exist in the adult brain in which new neurons and glial cells are produced lifelong, and the integration of new cells into functional circuits represent a very special form of plasticity. Consequently, in the neurogenic niche, the astrocytes must be equipped to execute both mature and developmental tasks in order to integrate newborn neurons into the circuit and yet maintain overall homeostasis without affecting the preexisting neurons. In this review, we focus on astrocytes of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), and discuss specific features of the astrocytic compartment that may allow the execution of both tasks. Firstly, astrocytes of the adult DG are molecularly, morphologically and functionally diverse, and the distinct astrocytes subtypes are characterized by their localization to DG layers. This spatial separation may lead to a functional specification of astrocytes subtypes according to the neuronal structures they are embedded in, hence a division of labor. Secondly, the astrocytic compartment is not static, but steadily increasing in numbers due to lifelong astrogenesis. Interestingly, astrogenesis can adapt to environmental and behavioral stimuli, revealing an unexpected astrocyte dynamic that allows the niche to adopt to changing demands. The diversity and dynamic of astrocytes in the adult DG implicate a vital contribution to hippocampal plasticity and represent an interesting model to uncover mechanisms how astrocytes simultaneously fulfill developmental and adult tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chalmers
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Evangelia Masouti
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Lee SY, Chung WS. Astrocytic crosstalk with brain and immune cells in healthy and diseased conditions. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 84:102840. [PMID: 38290370 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes interact with various cell types, including neurons, vascular cells, microglia, and peripheral immune cells. These interactions are crucial for regulating normal brain functions as well as modulating neuroinflammation in pathological conditions. Recent transcriptomic and proteomic studies have identified critical molecules involved in astrocytic crosstalk with other cells, shedding light on their roles in maintaining brain homeostasis in both healthy and diseased conditions. Astrocytes perform these various roles through either direct or indirect physical associations with neuronal synapses and vasculature. Furthermore, astrocytes can communicate with other immune cells, such as microglia, T cells, and natural killer cells, through secreted molecules during neuroinflammation. In this review, we discuss the critical molecular basis of this astrocytic crosstalk and the underlying mechanisms of astrocyte communication with other cells. We propose that astrocytes function as a central hub in inter-connecting neurons, vasculatures, and immune cells in healthy and diseased brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Young Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea. https://twitter.com/SYLee_neuro
| | - Won-Suk Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Kwon W, Choi DJ, Yu K, Williamson MR, Murali S, Ko Y, Woo J, Deneen B. Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Cerebellar Astrocytes across Developmental Stages and Brain Regions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1021. [PMID: 38256095 PMCID: PMC10816327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell type in the central nervous system, and they play a crucial role in normal brain function. While gliogenesis and glial differentiation occur during perinatal cerebellar development, the processes that occur during early postnatal development remain obscure. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic profiling of postnatal cerebellar astrocytes at postnatal days 1, 7, 14, and 28 (P1, P7, P14, and P28), identifying temporal-specific gene signatures at each specific time point. Comparing these profiles with region-specific astrocyte differentially expressed genes (DEGs) published for the cortex, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb revealed cerebellar-specific gene signature across these developmental timepoints. Moreover, we conducted a comparative analysis of cerebellar astrocyte gene signatures with gene lists from pediatric brain tumors of cerebellar origin, including ependymoma and medulloblastoma. Notably, genes downregulated at P14, such as Kif11 and HMGB2, exhibited significant enrichment across all pediatric brain tumor groups, suggesting the importance of astrocytic gene repression during cerebellar development to these tumor subtypes. Collectively, our studies describe gene expression patterns during cerebellar astrocyte development, with potential implications for pediatric tumors originating in the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wookbong Kwon
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dong-Joo Choi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kwanha Yu
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael R. Williamson
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sanjana Murali
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yeunjung Ko
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Program in Immunology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Junsung Woo
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Cancer Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Program in Immunology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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7
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Xie Y, Reid CM, Granados AA, Garcia MT, Dale-Huang F, Hanson SM, Mancia W, Liu J, Adam M, Mosto O, Pisco AO, Alvarez-Buylla A, Harwell CC. Developmental origin and local signals cooperate to determine septal astrocyte identity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.08.561428. [PMID: 37873089 PMCID: PMC10592657 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.08.561428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Astrocyte specification during development is influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, but the precise contribution of each remains poorly understood. Here we show that septal astrocytes from Nkx2.1 and Zic4 expressing progenitor zones are allocated into non-overlapping domains of the medial (MS) and lateral septal nuclei (LS) respectively. Astrocytes in these areas exhibit distinctive molecular and morphological features tailored to the unique cellular and synaptic circuit environment of each nucleus. Using single-nucleus (sn) RNA sequencing, we trace the developmental trajectories of cells in the septum and find that neurons and astrocytes undergo region and developmental stage-specific local cell-cell interactions. We show that expression of the classic morphogens Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) by MS and LS neurons respectively, functions to promote the molecular specification of local astrocytes in each region. Finally, using heterotopic cell transplantation, we show that both morphological and molecular specifications of septal astrocytes are highly dependent on the local microenvironment, regardless of developmental origins. Our data highlights the complex interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic factors shaping astrocyte identities and illustrates the importance of the local environment in determining astrocyte functional specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Xie
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, San Francisco, CA
| | - Christopher M. Reid
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, Harvard University, Boston, MA
| | | | - Miguel Turrero Garcia
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, San Francisco, CA
| | - Fiona Dale-Huang
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Sarah M. Hanson
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, San Francisco, CA
| | - Walter Mancia
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Jonathan Liu
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Manal Adam
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, San Francisco, CA
| | - Olivia Mosto
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Corey C. Harwell
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, San Francisco, CA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Lead contact
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8
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Wheeler MA, Quintana FJ. Astrocytes on steroids binge on synapses to cope with stress. Immunity 2023; 56:1983-1985. [PMID: 37703827 PMCID: PMC10564114 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Many mechanisms by which stress mediates its effects within the central nervous system still remain unknown. Byun, Kim, Kim et al. find that early-life stress triggers corticosterone release to drive astrocyte-dependent synapse elimination and altered behavior. Thus, this work defines a steroid-sensitive astrocyte transcriptional circuit controlling behavior, highlighting how the study of CNS immunoregulation may shed light on behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Wheeler
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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