The Role of Astrocytes in the Central Nervous System: Physiological and Pathophysiological Conditions

Introduction:As trocytes are cells with dis tinct morphological and functional properties in certain areas of the brain and play regulatory roles, such as neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, control of the blood-brain barrier permeability, and maintaining extracellular homeos tasis.Moreover, as trocytes play a key role in the development and modulation of neural circuits through communicating with axons, dendrites, and synapses according to the needs of the surrounding cells.Furthermore, as trocytes play an essential role in synaptic plas ticity, and memory formation via the modulation of neural function.Mature as trocytes are activated following central nervous sys tem damage and changed to reactive as trocytes type A1 and A2.Supporting roles of reactive as trocytes may shift to toxic functions and finally cause the progression of neurological diseases.Neurotransmitter disorder, abnormal brain development, and regeneration of synaptic s tructures are observed in the brains of patients with neuropsychological diseases.Extensive s tudies have pointed to the role of as trocytes in depression, schizophrenia, and drug dependence.On the other hand, as trocytes are an important factor in neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases.Neurological and radiological s tudies have shown that these diseases are associated with severe inflammation and as trocytes are among the mos t important cells that cause inflammation.Reactive as trocytes play a role in the pathology of various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's.Alterations in neurotransmitters, cellular connections, receptors, signaling pathways (especially in the field of inflammation), secretion of inflammatory factors, aqueous channels, secretion of growth factors, protein deposition, ionic homeos tasis, and finally, changes in the size and number of as trocytes have been considered as the mos t important pathogenic mechanisms in as trocytes.Conclusion: Regulation of reactive as trocytes could be an effective clinical s trategy for the treatment of neurological and psychological diseases.