Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and chronic disability worldwide. Therapeutic options to reduce stroke-related disability are still limited. Resident astrocytes are the most abundant glial cells in the brain and respond to the pathophysiological changes induced by ischemic stroke. METHODS: Comprehensive literature search and narrative review to summarize the current field of astrocytes in poststroke rehabilitation using the PubMed database. RESULTS: This review first presents that astrocyte activation is critical for scar formation, synaptogenesis, synaptic remodeling, inflammation limitation, and metabolic regulation. Next, we summarize the contributions of astrocytes to neural repair after stroke with a focus on their effects on exercise, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), music therapy, acupuncture, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and enriched environment (EE). CONCLUSIONS: In this review, we comprehensively analyze the role and possible mechanisms of astrocytes in various rehabilitative treatments and suggest that targeting astrocytes may be an effective strategy for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for ischemic stroke.
Source: Brain and Behavior
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.70551
Authors: Ying Han, Li Huang, Jiaojiao Wu, Guiling Wan, Linhong Mo, Aixian Liu
Institution: Capital Medical University
Language: English
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,630
Award: G4504872745
OpenAlex ID: W4411045485