Figure 1.

Role of astrocytes in modulation of a brain inflammatory microenvironment induced by neuron-derived α-synuclein. Under stress conditions, neurons release α-synuclein into the extracellular space. Neighboring astrocytes internalize the extracellular α-synuclein. when α-synuclein proteins accumulate in the cytoplasm, astrocytes promote the production of cytokines and chemokines, which in turn recruit and activate microglia, the major immune cells in the brain. Changes in cytokine/chemokine expression in astrocytes could also affect neuronal viability and function.