Abstract
Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a frequent and disabling complication of stroke that affects up to one-third of stroke survivors. The pathophysiology of PSD involves multiple mechanisms, including neurochemical, neuroinflammatory, neurotrophic, and neuroplastic changes. Astrocytes are a type of glial cell that is plentiful and adaptable in the central nervous system. They play key roles in various mechanisms by modulating neurotransmission, inflammation, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. This review summarizes the latest evidence of astrocyte involvement in PSD from human and animal studies, focusing on the alterations of astrocyte markers and functions in relation to monoamine neurotransmitters, inflammatory cytokines, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glutamate excitotoxicity. We also discuss the potential therapeutic implications of targeting astrocytes for PSD prevention and treatment. Astrocytes could be new candidates for antidepressant medications and other interventions that aim to restore astrocyte homeostasis and function in PSD.
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References
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This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82170865), Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Project of Shandong Province (2020Q140), Science and Technology Innovation Program of Weifang Medical University (04101401), and Taishan Scholars Project of Shandong Province (tsqn202211365).
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Jing, D., Hou, X., Guo, X. et al. Astrocytes in Post-Stroke Depression: Roles in Inflammation, Neurotransmission, and Neurotrophin Signaling. Cell Mol Neurobiol 43, 3301–3313 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-023-01386-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-023-01386-w