Research progress in astrocyte dysfunction and depression / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Most of the current research on depression focuses on neuronal regulation,while the astrocytic mechanism of depression is far from explored.Astrocytes are the most numerous and widely distributed glial cells in the central nervous system.With a complex structural morphology,astrocytes play an important role in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders by interacting with neuronal synapses,vasculature and other glial cells.Recent studies have shown that astrocytes may be involved in depression by regulating monoamine transmitters,glutamate cycle,synaptic plasticity,energy metabo-lism,and neuroinflammation.This review is intended to inspire new ideas for the treatment of depres-sion and the development of novel drugs based on astrocyte regulation.