The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (23): 3143-3148.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2023.23.021

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A1 astrocytes: A new target for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases

Wei XU1,Tao PENG1,Mengliu. ZENG2,3()   

  1. *.Department of Pancreatic Surgery,Union Hospital Affiliated with Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430022,China
  • Received:2023-07-20 Online:2023-12-10 Published:2024-01-08
  • Contact: Mengliu. ZENG E-mail:2018103010005@whu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Astrocytes constitute the most abundant cell type in the central nervous system. Under physiological conditions, astrocytes have a variety of functions, and play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system. However, in response to insults such as injury, inflammation and hypoxia, astrocytes undergo rapid changes in gene expression, morphology and function, and these responses collectively called as astrocyte reactivity. Activated astrocytes have been divided into neurotoxic phenotype (type A1) and neuroprotective phenotype (type A2). Recent studies have shown that A1 astrocytes are widely involved in the occurrence and development of various central nervous system diseases. Therefore, targeted regulation of activated astrocytes by combining multiple techniques is expected to be a potential treatment for central nervous system diseases. Here, we review recent advances of A1 astrocytes, including the molecular mechanism of phenotypic transformation and its role in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.

Key words: A1 astrocyte, central nervous system, neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammatory diseases, therapeutic target

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