Astrocytes play an integral role in the development, maturation, and refinement of neuronal circuits. They secrete proteins and lipids that instruct the formation of new synapses and induce the maturation of existing synapses. Through contact-mediated signaling, astrocytes can regulate the formation and state of synapses within their domain. Additionally, through phagocytosis, astrocytes participate in the elimination of excess synaptic connections. In this seminar, I will review our key findings on the molecular mechanisms of astrocyte-synapse interaction, with a focus on astrocyte-mediated synapse elimination. I will also discuss the potentially critical astrocytic crosstalk with other cells, such as vascular cells, microglia, and immune cells. We propose that astrocytes function as a central hub in interconnecting neurons, vasculatures, and immune cells, and that these interactions are crucial for regulating normal brain functions as well as modulating neuroinflammation in pathological conditions.

첨부: 뇌과학세미나 포스터(2024-1)