Astrogliosis: a target for intervention in intracerebral hemorrhage?

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a debilitating neurological injury, accounting for 10-15 % of all strokes. Despite neurosurgical intervention and supportive care, the 30-day mortality rate remains ~50 %, with ICH survivors frequently displaying neurological impairments and requiring long-term assisted care. Unfortunately, the lack of medical interventions to improve clinical outcomes has led to the notion that ICH is the least treatable form of stroke. Hence, additional studies are warranted to better understand the pathophysiology of ICH. Astrogliosis is an underlying astrocytic response to a wide range of brain injuries and postulated to have both beneficial and detrimental effects. However, the molecular mechanisms and functional roles of astrogliosis remain least characterized following ICH. Herein, we review the functional roles of astrogliosis in brain injuries and raise the prospects of therapeutically targeting astrogliosis after ICH.