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. 2010 Oct;7(4):338–353. doi: 10.1016/j.nurt.2010.07.006

Functions of astrocytes and their potential as therapeutic targets

Harold K Kimelberg 1,✉, Maiken Nedergaard 2,✉
PMCID: PMC2982258  NIHMSID: NIHMS234043  PMID: 20880499

Summary

Astrocytes are often referred to, and historically have been regarded as, support cells of the mammalian CNS. Work over the last decade suggests otherwise—that astrocytes may in fact play a more active role in higher neural processing than previously recognized. Because astrocytes can potentially serve as novel therapeutic targets, it is critical to understand how astrocytes execute their diverse supportive tasks while maintaining neuronal health. To that end, this review focuses on the supportive roles of astrocytes, a line of study relevant to essentially all acute and chronic neurological diseases, and critically re-evaluates our concepts of the functional properties of astrocytes and relates these functions and properties to the intricate morphology of these cells.

Key Words: Astrocytes, potassium buffering, pH control, receptors, transmitter uptake, blood flow, aquaporins, lactate shuttle, antioxidant, Müller cells, ensheathment

Contributor Information

Harold K. Kimelberg, Email: hkimelberg@ordwayresearch.org

Maiken Nedergaard, Email: maiken_nedergaard@urmc.rochester.edu.

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