Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA; Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, NC, 27710, USA; Regeneration Next Initiative, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2021 Aug;69:170-177. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.015. Epub 2021 May 3.
A tripartite synapse comprises a neuronal presynaptic axon and a postsynaptic dendrite, which are closely ensheathed by a perisynaptic astrocyte process. Through their structural and functional association with thousands of neuronal synapses, astrocytes regulate synapse formation and function. Recent work revealed a diverse range of cell adhesion-based mechanisms that mediate astrocyte-synapse interactions at tripartite synapses. Here, we will review some of these findings unveiling a highly dynamic bidirectional signaling between astrocytes and synapses, which orchestrates astrocyte morphological maturation and synapse development. Moreover, we will discuss the roles of these newly discovered molecular pathways in brain physiology and function both in health and disease.
三联突触由神经元的突触前轴突和突触后树突组成，它们被突触旁星形胶质细胞的突起紧密包裹。星形胶质细胞通过与数千个神经元突触的结构和功能联系，调节突触的形成和功能。最近的研究揭示了一系列不同的基于细胞黏附的机制，介导三联突触中星形胶质细胞-突触的相互作用。在这里，我们将回顾其中一些发现，揭示星形胶质细胞和突触之间的高度动态双向信号传递，协调星形胶质细胞形态成熟和突触发育。此外，我们还将讨论这些新发现的分子途径在健康和疾病状态下大脑生理和功能中的作用。
