Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsRehabilitation
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Associated Conditions
Rehabilitation
Astrocytes are the most abundant type ofglial cellin the brain and are diverse in their ability to offer several protective functions to the central nervous system. The arrangement of astrocytes is related to the chemical and physical interactions with other brain cells.
Astrocytes contribute to the production and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier. Theblood-brain barrieris a semi-permeable membrane that prevents certain components of the blood from passing out of circulation into the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system.
Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
Astrocytes are star-shaped cells found in the brain. Similarly to other neuronal cells, astrocytes are comprised of synapses, or cell ends that allow for chemical and electrical communication between cells. Astrocytes also consist of dendrites that allow for communications from other cells to be transmitted within the cell body of the astrocyte.
There are two major types of astrocytes, called protoplasmic or fibrous, that are classified based on their structural differences and locations. Protoplasmic astrocytes are found throughout the grey matter in the brain, which is where the majority of neurons are located. The grey matter in the brain controls functions such as muscle control and sensory perception, including speech, taste, sense of smell, memory, judgment, and more. Fibrous astrocytes are found throughout the white matter in the brain, which is where insulated nerve fibers are present.
While there are no anatomical variations specific to astrocytes, diseased astrocytes have a large impact on the presence and development of neurodegenerative conditions. It is the general consensus among researchers that astrocytes contribute to neurodegenerative diseases when they lose their ability to balance and detoxify brain cells.
Astrocytes also improve communications between brain cells and regulate the metabolic processes within the brain. Metabolic processes within the brain include the removal of waste products and the processing of substances used for cellular energy.
In addition to aiding in the progression of brain tumors under certain circumstances, astrocytes have also been identified as contributing or serving as the primary cause of neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system.These conditions include dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This dysfunction of astrocytes is called an astrocytopathy.
Another type of astrocytopathy is a condition called autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy.This condition causes an individual’s immune system to attach protein fibers that are part of the glial cell network, resulting in a variety of symptoms, including high fever, migraines, brain swelling (also known as encephalopathy), repetitive and involuntary movements, and vision changes.
Recent studies also show that astrocyte dysfunction plays a role in the development of neurodevelopmental conditions such as Rett syndrome, fragile X, and other severe intellectual disabilities.Astrocyte dysfunction in these instances is often due to specific variations in cell patterns that lead astrocytes to serve different functions during early development.
There is much research being done at this time to identify the reason why astrocytopathies develop and progress to the point that they do. Treatment of new cases of GFAP astrocytopathy consists of high doses of corticosteroids and immunoglobulin, which is a formula of proteins that boost the immune system. In this instance, immunoglobulin is provided intravenously, or via infusion through the arm.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sofroniew MV, Vinters HV.Astrocytes: biology and pathology.Acta Neuropathol.2010;119(1), 7-35. doi:10.1007/s00401-009-0619-8Molofsky AV, Deneen B.Astrocyte development: A guide for the perplexed.Glia. 2015; 63(8), 1320-1329. doi:10.1002/glia.22836.Sofroniew MV.Astrogliosis.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2014;7(2). doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a020420.Chen Z, Gu X, Zang Y.Brain Metastases from Primary Tumors. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2015.Acosta C, Anderson HD, Anderson CM.Astrocyte dysfunction in Alzheimer disease.J Neurosci Res.2017;95(12), 2430-2447. doi:10.1002/jnr.24075Shan F, Long Y, Qiu W.Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy: A review of the literature.Front Immunol.2018;9, 2802. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02802Molofsky AV, Krencik R, Ullian EM, Tsai HH, Deneen B, Richardson WD, … Rowitch DH.Astrocytes and disease: a neurodevelopmental perspective.Genes Dev.2012;26(9), 891-907. doi:10.1101/gad.188326.112
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sofroniew MV, Vinters HV.Astrocytes: biology and pathology.Acta Neuropathol.2010;119(1), 7-35. doi:10.1007/s00401-009-0619-8Molofsky AV, Deneen B.Astrocyte development: A guide for the perplexed.Glia. 2015; 63(8), 1320-1329. doi:10.1002/glia.22836.Sofroniew MV.Astrogliosis.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2014;7(2). doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a020420.Chen Z, Gu X, Zang Y.Brain Metastases from Primary Tumors. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2015.Acosta C, Anderson HD, Anderson CM.Astrocyte dysfunction in Alzheimer disease.J Neurosci Res.2017;95(12), 2430-2447. doi:10.1002/jnr.24075Shan F, Long Y, Qiu W.Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy: A review of the literature.Front Immunol.2018;9, 2802. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02802Molofsky AV, Krencik R, Ullian EM, Tsai HH, Deneen B, Richardson WD, … Rowitch DH.Astrocytes and disease: a neurodevelopmental perspective.Genes Dev.2012;26(9), 891-907. doi:10.1101/gad.188326.112
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sofroniew MV, Vinters HV.Astrocytes: biology and pathology.Acta Neuropathol.2010;119(1), 7-35. doi:10.1007/s00401-009-0619-8Molofsky AV, Deneen B.Astrocyte development: A guide for the perplexed.Glia. 2015; 63(8), 1320-1329. doi:10.1002/glia.22836.Sofroniew MV.Astrogliosis.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2014;7(2). doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a020420.Chen Z, Gu X, Zang Y.Brain Metastases from Primary Tumors. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2015.Acosta C, Anderson HD, Anderson CM.Astrocyte dysfunction in Alzheimer disease.J Neurosci Res.2017;95(12), 2430-2447. doi:10.1002/jnr.24075Shan F, Long Y, Qiu W.Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy: A review of the literature.Front Immunol.2018;9, 2802. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02802Molofsky AV, Krencik R, Ullian EM, Tsai HH, Deneen B, Richardson WD, … Rowitch DH.Astrocytes and disease: a neurodevelopmental perspective.Genes Dev.2012;26(9), 891-907. doi:10.1101/gad.188326.112
Sofroniew MV, Vinters HV.Astrocytes: biology and pathology.Acta Neuropathol.2010;119(1), 7-35. doi:10.1007/s00401-009-0619-8
Molofsky AV, Deneen B.Astrocyte development: A guide for the perplexed.Glia. 2015; 63(8), 1320-1329. doi:10.1002/glia.22836.
Sofroniew MV.Astrogliosis.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2014;7(2). doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a020420.
Chen Z, Gu X, Zang Y.Brain Metastases from Primary Tumors. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2015.
Acosta C, Anderson HD, Anderson CM.Astrocyte dysfunction in Alzheimer disease.J Neurosci Res.2017;95(12), 2430-2447. doi:10.1002/jnr.24075
Shan F, Long Y, Qiu W.Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy: A review of the literature.Front Immunol.2018;9, 2802. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.02802
Molofsky AV, Krencik R, Ullian EM, Tsai HH, Deneen B, Richardson WD, … Rowitch DH.Astrocytes and disease: a neurodevelopmental perspective.Genes Dev.2012;26(9), 891-907. doi:10.1101/gad.188326.112
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