Astrocyte identity: evolutionary perspectives on astrocyte functions and heterogeneity. (June 2019) - Yang, Yongjie
Highlights: There are conserved mechanisms for astrocyte differentiation between fly and mammals. Similar gene expression profiles of fly and mammalian astrocytes are revealed by transcriptome analysis. There is evidence of astrocyte diversity in vertebrates and invertebrates. Inter-regional and intra-regional mouse astrocyte diversity follows the dorsal-to-ventral axis of the adult brain. Abstract : The development of new animal models, in vivo isolation approaches, and improvements in genome-wide RNA expression methods have greatly propelled molecular profiling of astrocytes and the characterization of astrocyte heterogeneity in the central nervous system (CNS). Several recent reviews have comprehensively discussed the molecular and functional diversity of mammalian astrocytes. In this brief review, we emphasize interspecies comparisons and an evolutionary perspective regarding the astro(glia) of vertebrates and invertebrates which are similar in form and function. This analysis has revealed conserved astrocyte transcriptomes in the fly, mouse and human. We also offer opinions about the pattern and origin of astrocyte heterogeneity in the CNS.