FIGURE 1.

Role of astrocytes in a micro-environment dependent-mode. (A) Functions of the astrocytes in physiological conditions, which are in favor of the homeostasis of the nervous tissue. (B) Reactive astrocytosis, which has a double function highly discussed, one for cell death and one for pro-neuroprotection probably in a context dependent-mode. (C) Astrocytes with genetic modifications by reduced expression of some upregulated genes, which would allow preserve them as a neuroprotective source for promoting neuronal survival; although the mechanism of how they could maintain this state of neuroprotection for longer time is still unknown (?).