Glial cells in physiology and pathology

Publication date: 24/02/2025

Authors: Bocchi, R., Thorwirth, M., Simon-Ebert, T. et al.

Journal: Nat Neurosci 28, 457–469

Commentary: Astrocytes are glial cells that are essential for neuronal health; however, their diversity in white matter, particularly in comparison to gray matter (GM), remains unclear. This work employed modern technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics to characterize astrocyte subpopulations in white matter (WM). The authors identified two subtypes of astrocytes in WM: 1) Neuro-supportive astrocytes, which preserved the structural and functional integrity of nerve fibers; 2) Proliferative astrocytes: a novel cell type with proliferative and migration capabilities. Notably, signals from endothelial cells, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) regulated the activity of proliferative astrocytes via the epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway. This discovery has a highly translational impact because it suggests that the brain has a natural reservoir of astrocytic cells that may have the ability to repair the brain after injury, opening avenues for new therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative diseases.

Commented by: Michele Tufano (13/05/2025)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-01878-6