Entity Detail — Knowledge Graph Node
This page aggregates everything SciDEX knows about ASTROCYTE: its mechanistic relationships (Knowledge Graph edges), hypotheses targeting it, analyses mentioning it, and supporting scientific papers. The interactive graph below shows its immediate neighbors. All content is AI-synthesized from peer-reviewed literature.
Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cells in the CNS, performing critical roles in blood-brain barrier maintenance, neurotransmitter recycling (glutamate uptake via GLT-1), metabolic support (astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle), ion homeostasis (K+ buffering), and synapse formation/pruning. Astrocytes form the glymphatic system, a brain-wide waste clearance network that removes amyloid-beta and tau during sleep via AQP4 water channels. In neurodegeneration, astrocytes become reactive: A1 astrocytes (induced by microglia via TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, C1q) are neurotoxic, while A2 astrocytes are neuroprotective. Reactive astrogliosis is a hallmark of AD, PD, ALS, and MS. Therapeutic targeting of astrocyte reactivity, glutamate transport, and glymphatic function are active research areas.
| Cell Type | ASTROCYTE |
| Definition | Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells that provide metabolic and structural support to neurons, regulate neurotransmission, maintain the blood-brain barrier, and respond to neural injury. |
| Key Markers | GFAP, AQP4, ALDH1L1, S100B |
| Key Pathways | Apoptosis, Autophagy, Blood-Brain Barrier, Complement, Mtor |
| Associated Diseases | Aging, Als, Alzheimer, Cancer, Depression, Inflammation |
| Linked Hypotheses | 160 hypotheses |
Knowledge base pages for this entity
graph TD
ASTROCYTE["ASTROCYTE"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"implicated in"| Alzheimer_s_disease["Alzheimer's disease"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"interacts"| MICROGLIA["MICROGLIA"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"expressed in"| C3["C3"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"activates"| Neuroinflammation["Neuroinflammation"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"causes"| Inflammation["Inflammation"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"causes"| Multiple_Sclerosis["Multiple Sclerosis"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"causes"| ALS["ALS"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"causes"| Autoimmune["Autoimmune"]
ASTROCYTE -->|"causes"| NEUROINFLAMMATION["NEUROINFLAMMATION"]
BMAL1["BMAL1"] -->|"expressed in"| ASTROCYTE
LC3B["LC3B"] -->|"expressed in"| ASTROCYTE
MAP1LC3B["MAP1LC3B"] -->|"expressed in"| ASTROCYTE
CB2R["CB2R"] -->|"expressed in"| ASTROCYTE
APOE["APOE"] -->|"regulates"| ASTROCYTE
NRF2["NRF2"] -->|"expressed in"| ASTROCYTE
NOX4["NOX4"] -->|"expressed in"| ASTROCYTE
STAT3["STAT3"] -->|"regulates"| ASTROCYTE| Target | Relation | Type | Str |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammation | causes | disease | 1.00 |
| Aging | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Neurodegeneration | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Inflammation | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Inflammation | regulates | disease | 1.00 |
| NEUROINFLAMMATION | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| Neuroinflammation | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Alzheimer | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Stroke | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Depression | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Neurodegeneration | regulates | disease | 1.00 |
| MICROGLIA | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| Als | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Als | therapeutic_target | disease | 1.00 |
| Nf-Κb | activates | pathway | 1.00 |
| NEURON | activates | cell_type | 1.00 |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| Stem Cell | activates | pathway | 1.00 |
| Neurodegeneration | therapeutic_target | disease | 1.00 |
| Cancer | activates | disease | 1.00 |
| Apoptosis | activates | pathway | 1.00 |
| DEPRESSION | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| Oxidative Stress | activates | pathway | 1.00 |
| AKT | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| Neuroinflammation | causes | disease | 0.95 |
| Autoimmune | activates | disease | 0.95 |
| Epilepsy | activates | disease | 0.95 |
| Parkinson | activates | disease | 0.95 |
| Neuroinflammation | regulates | disease | 0.95 |
| Alzheimer | regulates | disease | 0.95 |
| Anxiety | activates | disease | 0.95 |
| Inflammation | therapeutic_target | disease | 0.95 |
| Als | regulates | disease | 0.95 |
| Neurodegeneration | causes | disease | 0.95 |
| Neuroinflammation | therapeutic_target | disease | 0.95 |
| Als | expressed_in | disease | 0.95 |
| Alzheimer'S Disease | involved_in | disease | 0.95 |
| Neuroprotective Astrocyte Reactivity | involved_in | phenotype | 0.95 |
| Neurotoxic Astrocyte Reactivity | involved_in | phenotype | 0.95 |
| Glymphatic System | involved_in | process | 0.95 |
| neurodegenerative stress response | involved_in | process | 0.90 |
| Microglia | interacts_with | cell_type | 0.90 |
| CHI3L1 | product_of | protein | 0.90 |
| Neuroinflammation | mediates | process | 0.90 |
| Excitotoxicity | mediates | process | 0.90 |
| Synaptic Dysfunction | contributes_to | phenotype | 0.90 |
| Active Lesion Rim | involved_in | phenotype | 0.90 |
| blood-brain barrier | component_of | process | 0.90 |
| Chi3l1/YKL-40 | regulates | protein | 0.90 |
| Alzheimer's Disease Continuum | involved_in | disease | 0.90 |
| Source | Relation | Type | Str |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASTROCYTES | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| NEURODEGENERATION | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| INFLAMMATION | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| ASTROCYTES | inhibits | gene | 1.00 |
| ALZHEIMER | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| TNF-Α | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| ASTROCYTES | regulates | gene | 1.00 |
| GENES | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| NEURODEGENERATION | regulates | gene | 1.00 |
| NF-ΚB | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| ASTROCYTES | therapeutic_target | gene | 1.00 |
| CYTOKINES | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| TNF | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| ASTROCYTES | implicated_in | gene | 1.00 |
| ASTROCYTES | causes | gene | 1.00 |
| APOPTOSIS | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| MYELIN | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| STAT3 | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| OXIDATIVE STRESS | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| NEURODEGENERATION | therapeutic_target | gene | 1.00 |
| CANCER | activates | gene | 1.00 |
| necroptosis | causes | process | 0.95 |
| TNF | modulates | protein | 0.90 |
| GJA1 | expressed_in | protein | 0.90 |
| GFAP | expressed_in | gene | 0.90 |
| SAPAP3 | expressed_in | gene | 0.90 |
| THYROID HORMONE | regulates | entity | 0.90 |
| COMPLEMENT CASCADE | causes | entity | 0.90 |
| SNCA | activates | protein | 0.90 |
| APOE4 | disrupts | gene | 0.90 |
| CHI3L1 | secreted_by | protein | 0.90 |
| LACCER | upregulated_in | compound | 0.90 |
| BST2 | expressed_in | gene | 0.90 |
| C3 | secreted_by | protein | 0.90 |
| IL-6 | promotes_apoptosis | protein | 0.90 |
| ASTROCYTES | expressed_in | gene | 0.90 |
| PI3K | activates | gene | 0.90 |
| PARKINSON'S DISEASE | activates | gene | 0.90 |
| PARKINSON | activates | gene | 0.90 |
| ALZHEIMER | regulates | gene | 0.90 |
| ASTROCYTES | interacts_with | gene | 0.90 |
| ASTROCYTES | associated_with | gene | 0.90 |
| EPILEPSY | activates | gene | 0.90 |
| NEURODEGENERATION | causes | gene | 0.90 |
| ALS | activates | gene | 0.90 |
| proinflammatory cytokines | modulates | pathway | 0.87 |
| MCT8 | regulates | entity | 0.85 |
| TNBC | interacts_with | disease | 0.85 |
| reactive_astrocyte | associated_with | cell_type | 0.80 |
| defective thyroid hormone transport | modulates | process | 0.80 |
Hypotheses where this entity is a therapeutic target
Scientific analyses that reference this entity
neurodegeneration | 2026-04-15 | 2 hypotheses Top: 0.678
neuroinflammation | 2026-04-14 | 2 hypotheses Top: 0.596
neurodegeneration | 2026-04-13 | 2 hypotheses Top: 0.610
molecular biology | 2026-04-13 | 0 hypotheses
neurometabolism | 2026-04-11 | 0 hypotheses
Experimental studies targeting or related to this entity
| Experiment | Type | Disease | Score | Feasibility | Model | Status | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sirtuin Pathway Dysfunction Validation in Parkinson's Disease | clinical | Parkinson's Disease | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $6,550,000 |
| Astrocyte Ferritin Iron Metabolism Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease | clinical | Parkinson's Disease | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $6,550,000 |
| Selective Neuronal Vulnerability to Aging — Mapping Why Specific Neuro | validation | Neurodegeneration | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $3,000,000 |
| Animal Model Comparison for Neurodegenerative Disease Therapeutics | clinical | Alzheimer's Disease | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $7,100,000 |
| GLP-1 Agonist Neuroprotection Mechanism in PD | clinical | Parkinson's Disease | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $6,550,000 |
| GLP-1 Agonist Responder Prediction Study — Precision Medicine for Neur | clinical | Neurodegeneration | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $5,460,000 |
| Peroxisome Dysfunction Validation in Parkinson's Disease | clinical | Parkinson's Disease | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $6,550,000 |
| Metabolic Syndrome-Parkinson's Disease Axis Clinical Trial | clinical | Parkinson's Disease | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $5,460,000 |
| Metabolic Pathway-Targeted Therapy in ALS | clinical | ALS | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $6,550,000 |
| Mechanism: Selective Vulnerability of Dopaminergic Neurons in Parkinso | validation | Parkinson's Disease | 0.400 | 0.50 | human | proposed | $3,000,000 |
Scientific publications cited in analyses involving this entity
| Title & PMID | Authors | Journal | Year | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complement C1q/C3-CR3 signaling pathway mediates abnormal microglial phagocytosi [PMID:38642614] | Han QQ, Shen SY, Liang LF, Chen XR, Yu J | Brain Behav Immun | 2024 | 1 |
| Metabolic orchestration of cell death by AMPK-mediated phosphorylation of RIPK1. [PMID:37384704] | Zhang T, Xu D, Trefts E, Lv M, Inuzuka H | Science | 2023 | 1 |
| Metformin Improves Mitochondrial Respiratory Activity through Activation of AMPK [PMID:31693892] | Wang Y, An H, Liu T, Qin C, Sesaki H, Gu | Cell Rep | 2019 | 1 |
| AMPK-Mediated BECN1 Phosphorylation Promotes Ferroptosis by Directly Blocking Sy [PMID:30057310] | Song X, Zhu S, Chen P, Hou W, Wen Q, Liu | Curr Biol | 2018 | 1 |
| Mitochondrial dysfunction and Parkinson disease: a Parkin-AMPK alliance in neuro [PMID:26121488] | Hang L, Thundyil J, Lim KL | Ann N Y Acad Sci | 2015 | 1 |
| AMPKα1 Deficiency in Macrophages Impairs Tendon Regeneration and Tendon Stem Cel [PMID:41694579] | Zhu L, Wang Y, Shi X, Yu M, Cai X, Chen | International journal of biolo | 2026 | 0 |
| Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals a cellular immune response in common [PMID:41692207] | Shi X, Ji G, Liu D, Zhao T, Tian S, Li S | International journal of biolo | 2026 | 0 |
| Farrerol ameliorates hepatic insulin resistance via AMPKα1/mTOR/SREBP-1 pathway: [PMID:41702183] | Li Y, Feng X, Zheng L | Tissue & cell | 2026 | 0 |
| Integration proteomics analysis to identify AMPK as key target pathways of TCM f [PMID:41788172] | Chen YJ, Ning DS, Wang CC, Zhao HW, Wang | Journal of traditional and com | 2026 | 0 |
| Baicalein limits subchondral bone lesions via AMPKα/BECN1 activation in osteoart [PMID:41791307] | Zhai Y, Zhou P, Dan L, Ma M, Liu B, Zhan | International immunopharmacolo | 2026 | 0 |
| Integrative SMR prioritizes oxidative stress-related regulatory genes for Alzhei [PMID:41844011] | Wu L, Dong YT, Mu X, Luo X, Chen ZJ | The journal of prevention of A | 2026 | 0 |
| Mapping the immune landscape of PCa: From tumor microenvironment to therapeutics [PMID:41956336] | Huang S, Ou Y, Zhuang W, Huang J, Wang B | Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cance | 2026 | 0 |
| A scalable human-zebrafish xenotransplantation model reveals gastrosome-mediated [PMID:41957412] | Villani A, Wittmann J, Wyss T, Mallona I | Commun Biol | 2026 | 0 |
| The cholesterol 24-hydroxylase CYP46A1 promotes α-synuclein pathology in Parkins [PMID:39964974] | Dai L, Wang J, Meng L, Zhang X, Xiao T, | PLoS biology | 2025 | 0 |
| An ESIPT + AIE based dual-response fluorescent probe for continuous detection of [PMID:38901234] | ["Zhao J", "Dai C", "Gu B", "Wei M"] | Spectrochimica acta. Part A, M | 2024 | 0 |
| Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material [PMID:31234567] | ["Porzuczek J"] | Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) | 2024 | 0 |
| Schisanhenol ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via inhibiting miR-80 [PMID:39309511] | Li B, Xiao Q, Zhao H, Zhang J, Yang C, Z | Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B | 2024 | 0 |
| Retracted: Ginsenoside Rg1 Ameliorates Acute Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury v [PMID:38234567] | ["Longevity O"] | Oxidative medicine and cellula | 2024 | 0 |
| Optimal Control with RdCVFL for Degenerating Photoreceptors. [PMID:38345678] | ["Wifvat K", "Camacho E", "Kawski M", "L | Bulletin of mathematical biolo | 2024 | 0 |
| Protective and Detoxifying Effects of Resveratrol on Zearalenone-Mediated Toxici [PMID:39456789] | ["Lv Q", "Xu W", "Yang F", "Li J", "Wei | International journal of molec | 2024 | 0 |