What is tauopathy?

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the deposition of abnormal tau protein in the brain. The spectrum of tau pathologies expands beyond the traditionally discussed disease forms like Pick disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and argyrophilic grain disease.

What do astrocytes do?

Astrocytes not only regulate blood flow, but also transfer mitochondria to neurons, and supply the building blocks of neurotransmitters, which fuel neuronal metabolism [2,11,57]. In addition, astrocytes can phagocytose synapses, alter neurotrophin secretion, and clear debris [14,58].

Is tau expressed in astrocytes?

Astrocytes express very low levels of MAPT, encoding the microtubule-associated protein tau, compared to neurons in the normal brain (Zhang et al., 2016).

What are synucleinopathies?

The synucleinopathies are a diverse group of neurodegenerative disorders that share a common pathologic lesion composed of aggregates of insoluble α-synuclein protein in selectively vulnerable populations of neurons and glia.

Why are astrocytes so important?

Astrocytes participate to a variety of essential physiological processes in the healthy brain such as the formation and maturation of the synapses, receptor trafficking, control of the homeostasis of ions and energy metabolites, and clearance of neurotransmitters.

How do astrocytes protect the brain?

Astrocytes are capable of producing a robust antioxidant response to protect themselves and also neurons, through the release of glutathione precursors to neurons. Their role in scar formation allows astrocytes to regulate and contain the immune responses in a manner that controls neuroinflammation.

What are astrocytic tangles?

Astrocytic tau pathology that resembles TSAs (although usually termed astrocytic tangles), is an important component of the morphological alterations reported in CTE, a disorder associated with mild repetitive brain trauma and progressive neurological deterioration [26,27].

Is astrocyte a neuron?

Astrocytes are a major type of glia, a class of non-neuronal brain cells which also include oligodendrocytes, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (NG2 cells) and microglia [8].

Where is astrocyte found?

the nervous system
astrocyte, star-shaped cell that is a type of neuroglia found in the nervous system in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Astrocytes can be subdivided into fibrous and protoplasmic types. Fibrous astrocytes are prevalent among myelinated nerve fibres in the white matter of the central nervous system.