星形胶质细胞是中枢神经系统中数量最多的细胞,从引导轴突、突触支持到控制血-脑脊液屏障及脑血流,发挥多种作用.发挥这些作用需要通过大量不同类型的星形胶质细胞进行.本文对星形胶质细胞的功能,尤其是保持突触平衡、调节神经元信号传导、保护氧化损伤下的神经元和决定内源性神经前体细胞分化方面的作用进行综述.本文还重点讨论近年星形胶质细胞在运动神经元病(MND)中的作用方面的研究,强调其在细胞替代治疗中作为治疗靶标和治疗剂的潜能.在20%家族性MND中涉及到的铜锌超氧化物歧化酶(SOD1)基因,其必须表达在胶质细胞和运动神经元中来诱导小鼠疾病模型的疾病状态.在星形胶质细胞中选择性减少突变SOD1(mSOD1)不会影响疾病发作,可延缓疾病进展;但减少运动神经元中的mSOD1可推迟疾病发作,延缓早期病程,对寿命无影响.这提示胶质细胞在MND中可作为潜在的治疗靶标.然而,对星形胶质细胞特异性标志物、前体细胞、亚型的认识缺乏意味着对其发育/分化、应对损伤的了解落后于对其功能的认识.只有深入理解这些问题才能有效运用星形胶质细胞靶向或替代治疗慢性中枢神经系统疾病,如MND.“,”Astrocytes are the most numerous cell type within the central nervous system (CNS) and perform a variety of tasks, from axon guidance and synaptic support, to the control of the blood brain barrier and blood flow. To perform these roles, there is a great variety of astrocytes. In this review, we summarize the function of astrocytes, in particular, their role in maintaining homeostasis at the synapse, regulating neuronal signaling, protecting neurons from oxidative damage, and determining the fate of endogenous neural precursors. The review also highlights recent developments indicating the role of astrocytes in motor neuron disease (MND), emphasizing their potential as therapeutic targets and agents in cell replacement therapy. The Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene that has been implicated in 20% of cases of familial MND must be expressed in the glial cells as well as motor neurons to produce the disease state in murine models of disease. Selectively reducing mutant SOD1 (mSOD1) in astrocytes does not affect disease onset but slows disease progression, whereas reducing mSOD1 in motor neurons delays disease onset and slows early disease but has less effect on life span. This suggests that glial cells represent potential therapeutic targets in MND. However, the lack of specific markers for astrocytes, their precursors, and sub-types means that our knowledge of astrocyte development/differentiation and response to injury lags far behind our understanding of function. Only by filling this knowledge gap can astrocytes be effectively targeted or replaced to successfully treat chronic CNS disorders such as MND.(C) 2009 Wiley-Liss,Inc.