Pathological phenotypes of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Astrocytes are involved in various processes in the central nervous system (CNS). As the most abundant cell type in the CNS, astrocytes play an essential role in neuronal maintenance and support, synaptic activity, neuronal metabolism, and amyloid-beta (A beta) clearance. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral impairment. The transformation of astrocytes is involved in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. Since astrocytes have functional diversity and morphological and physiological heterogeneity in the CNS, AD-related astrocytes might show various pathological phenotypes during AD. Astrocytes developing pathological phenotypes could contribute to AD progression. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathological phenotypes of astrocytes in the context of AD, highlighting recent findings in human and mouse AD. Alzheimer's disease is a widespread type of dementia characterized by memory loss and cognitive dysfunction, with the death of neuronal cells being a key feature. However, the role of astrocytes in the disease's progression is not fully understood. In a recent study by J.K., J.L., and J.-S.M., they reviewed the pathological phenotypes of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease. They explored Alzheimer's-related astrocytes, discussing the pathological phenotypes in the context of human and mouse Alzheimer's models. They identified four main phenotypes: reactive, death, senescence, and functional impairment. The study concluded that understanding these pathological phenotypes could help reveal new disease mechanisms of Alzheimer's and potentially provide alternative treatment approaches. This knowledge could have significant implications for future Alzheimer's research and treatment strategies. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author.