Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Curr Neuropharmacol. 2021;19(8):1354-1366. doi: 10.2174/1570159X19666210215123239.
Astrocytes are essential for maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytic dysfunction has been implicated in the progression of several neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases; however, a multitude of factors and signals influencing astrocytic activity have not been entirely elucidated. Astrocytes respond to local signals from the brain, but are also indirectly modulated by gut microbiota. Previous studies revealed that most of the CNS diseases triggered by astrocytic dysfunction are closely associated with the dysbiosis of gut microbiome. Emerging data from preclinical and clinical studies suggest that the maturation and functioning of astrocytes rely on gut microbiota, which plays a pivotal role in the decrease of astrocytic activation and may alleviate symptoms of brain diseases. Herein, we discuss the most recent advances concerning the complex connections between astrocytes and gut microbiota, which are involved in the immune, neurotransmission and neuroendocrine pathways. Deciphering these pathways will facilitate a better understanding of how perturbed gut microbiota contributes to the dysfunction of astrocytes and open therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of brain diseases.
星形胶质细胞对于维持中枢神经系统（CNS）的内稳态至关重要。星形胶质细胞功能障碍与多种神经退行性和精神疾病的进展有关；然而，影响星形胶质细胞活性的多种因素和信号尚未完全阐明。星形胶质细胞对来自大脑的局部信号做出反应，但也受到肠道微生物组的间接调节。先前的研究表明，由星形胶质细胞功能障碍引发的大多数 CNS 疾病都与肠道微生物组的失调密切相关。来自临床前和临床研究的新兴数据表明，星形胶质细胞的成熟和功能依赖于肠道微生物组，它在降低星形胶质细胞激活方面起着关键作用，并可能缓解脑部疾病的症状。在此，我们讨论了星形胶质细胞与肠道微生物组之间复杂联系的最新进展，这些联系涉及免疫、神经传递和神经内分泌途径。解析这些途径将有助于更好地理解失调的肠道微生物组如何导致星形胶质细胞功能障碍，并为治疗脑部疾病开辟治疗机会。
