hiPSC-based models to decipher the contribution of human astrocytes to Alzheimer's disease and potential therapeutics

Astrocytes constitute a large part of the brain cell mass and play essential functions in the central nervous system. They provide trophic and metabolic support to neurons, regulate synapse formation, neurotransmission, calcium homeostasis, and control immune response and blood flow. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), astrocytes undergo profound molecular, morphological and functional alterations that arise at early stages and exacerbate as disease evolves, indicating that astrocytes transition from homeostatic to dysfunctional disease-associated states and pointing to these cells as critical contributors to AD progression.