AUTHOR=Chiareli Raphaela Almeida , Carvalho Gustavo Almeida , Marques Bruno Lemes , Mota Lennia Soares , Oliveira-Lima Onésia Cristina , Gomes Rodrigo Mello , Birbrair Alexander , Gomez Renato Santiago , Simão Fabrício , Klempin Friederike , Leist Marcel , Pinto Mauro Cunha Xavier TITLE=The Role of Astrocytes in the Neurorepair Process JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.665795 DOI=10.3389/fcell.2021.665795 ISSN=2296-634X ABSTRACT=

Astrocytes are highly specialized glial cells responsible for trophic and metabolic support of neurons. They are associated to ionic homeostasis, the regulation of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, the modulation of synaptic activity by capturing and recycle of neurotransmitters and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier. During injuries and infections, astrocytes act in cerebral defense through heterogeneous and progressive changes in their gene expression, morphology, proliferative capacity, and function, which is known as reactive astrocytes. Thus, reactive astrocytes release several signaling molecules that modulates and contributes to the defense against injuries and infection in the central nervous system. Therefore, deciphering the complex signaling pathways of reactive astrocytes after brain damage can contribute to the neuroinflammation control and reveal new molecular targets to stimulate neurorepair process. In this review, we present the current knowledge about the role of astrocytes in brain damage and repair, highlighting the cellular and molecular bases involved in synaptogenesis and neurogenesis. In addition, we present new approaches to modulate the astrocytic activity and potentiates the neurorepair process after brain damage.