astrocyteNet

A human iPS cell line for ready-to-use human iAstrocytes that support human neurons https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.02.709009v1

Job alert! 🚨 We are recruiting an engineer to implement an open-source data hub of 3D cell reconstructions and meshes! More details here: lnkd.in/dq4sHRuC. Please reach out with a one page statement presenting your interests & a resume if interested #job #research #compneuro #engineer #neuroscience

Collaborating teams from @Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics and @Department of Chemistry at University of Oxford engineered 3D microfluidic constructs containing human neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) cultured either alone or together with mouse astrocytes. The results were striking. Compared to NPCs alone, co-cultures exhibited: Enhanced neuronal maturation Increased cell viability and density Reduced lesion size after implantation Greater axonal outgrowth Improved astrocyte coupling to blood vessels within the graft. High-resolution deconvolved microscopy confirmed the presence of synapses within the implants, while optogenetic experiments demonstrated functional connections between host brain tissue and the transplanted constructs. Both NPC-only and co-culture grafts increased astrocyte size, but co-cultures demonstrated superior structural and functional outcomes overall, underscoring the importance of astrocyte–neuron interactions from the outset. https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/.../advs.202507423 The research was done with support from the Oxford Martin School- https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/brain-repair Oxford Martin School More details: https://www.dpag.ox.ac.uk/.../study-reveals-unexpected...

Collaborating teams from @Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics and @Department of Chemistry at University of Oxford engineered 3D microfluidic constructs containing human neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) cultured either alone or together with mouse astrocytes. The results were striking. Compared to NPCs alone, co-cultures exhibited: Enhanced neuronal maturation Increased cell viability and density Reduced lesion size after implantation Greater axonal outgrowth Improved astrocyte coupling to blood vessels within the graft. High-resolution deconvolved microscopy confirmed the presence of synapses within the implants, while optogenetic experiments demonstrated functional connections between host brain tissue and the transplanted constructs. Both NPC-only and co-culture grafts increased astrocyte size, but co-cultures demonstrated superior structural and functional outcomes overall, underscoring the importance of astrocyte–neuron interactions from the outset. https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/.../advs.202507423 The research was done with support from the Oxford Martin School- https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/brain-repair Oxford Martin School More details: https://www.dpag.ox.ac.uk/.../study-reveals-unexpected...

Teams from DPAG and Chemistry at @ox.ac.uk engineered 3D constructs containing human neuronal progenitor cells cultured either alone or together with mouse astrocytes.
Co-cultures performed much better advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@martinschool.bsky.social

An optogenetics-compatible red fluorescent calcium indicator with negligible blue light photoactivation https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.28.708321v1

Hopx expression marks Aβ clearance astrocytes in Alzheimers disease https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.27.708674v1

Achucarro International Glia School is back! #AIGS26

Registration period is already open, and the final programme accessible.

Looking forward to this edition in #Plentzia

www.achucarro.org/gl...

#astrocytes #microglia #oligodendrocytes #glialcells

Immunity in Alzheimer’s disease: From mechanisms to therapies @cp-immunity.bsky.social www.cell.com/immunity/ful...

A human gut-BBB-brain microphysiological model for studying neurodegenerative diseases https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.24.707716v1

have ppl encountered any IP problems getting to use any of the tools we've made? GCaMP? RCaMP, SnFRs, AAVretro, etc.? we tried to make access trivial and cheap. but if there are problems, please let me know. we could try to break patents on all those to make shareware versions, if this is a problem

Activation of GPR97/ADGRG3 by its tethered agonist, but not by beclomethasone, induces neutrophil polarization and migration The adhesion GPCR GPR97 is most effectively activated by its tethered agonist.

A new in vitro study in #ScienceSignaling demonstrates the mechanism of activation for adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (#AGPCRs), which are found in every organ system and are involved in cell adhesion or cell-cell interactions. https://scim.ag/4rWUMW2

I wonder if I should cite the paper now in each application 🤔

Integrating sex as a biological variable in bioengineering should not be viewed as a women’s health concern but as a requirement for reproducible, rigorous research that ultimately benefits everyone. But what does truly meaningful integration look like in practice?
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Even though, for each manuscript, time under review is only 7–15 days longer for female- than for male-authored articles (Fig 2), accumulated over a woman’s career, these delays can be very substantial. For instance, for every 50 papers published by a female author, she will have spent on average 350–750 days longer than her male counterparts waiting for reviews and editorial decisions and/or revising manuscripts.

"Biomedical and life science articles by female researchers spend longer under review" from @plosbiology.org. After I read this sentence, I counted & I have 43 papers w/ a female first and/or last author. Lots of time wasted in longer reviews/revisions. 😕
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

Neuropathological and Functional Impact of Astrocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in an Aged Model of Alzheimer's Disease https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.13.705826v1

GLIA 2027 (7–10 Jul, Bologna) introduces Technical Symposia! Showcase cutting-edge methods & tools in glial research. Industry partners welcome. Submit by 8 Apr 2026.
🔗 https://www.glia-meeting.eu/2027/call-for-symposia/

#GLIA2027 #Neuroscience #GlialResearch #Innovation

Astrocytes enable amygdala neural representations supporting memory - Nature Astrocytes in the basolateral amygdala dynamically track fear state and support fear memory retrieval and extinction.

Really nice work from the Holmes lab looking at amygdala astrocytes in fear memory and extinction!

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Maternal High-Fat Diet Induces Sex- and Estrous Cycle-Specific Glial Dysregulation in the Peripheral Offspring Retina https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.06.704048v1

The 'sex-specific effect:' Evaluating analytical approaches to sex-dependence in the behavioral and brain sciences https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.04.703900v1

Inhibition of Endocannabinoid Degradation in Astrocytes Reprograms Glial Reactivity and Prevents Seizure Sequelae https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.04.703855v1

Characterizing the metabolomes of microglia, astrocytes, and neurons in aging and Alzheimer's brains https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.06.703980v1

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve just started my new lab at the Centro de Neurociencias Cajal (CSIC) in Madrid! @cncajal-csic.bsky.social
We are recruiting motivated PhD students and postdocs to join an ERC-funded project on astro-neuronal computations.
More info: astroneuronal.com

Hippocampal estrogen levels, receptor types, and epigenetics contribute to sex-specific memory vulnerabilities to concurrent acute stresses Acute concurrent stresses provoke lasting, sex-dependent memory problems. Hokenson, Rodríguez-Acevedo, et al. find that high hippocampal estrogen levels in mice generate permissive chromatin states, a...

Check out our new paper, investigating the role of estrogen in stress-induced memory disruptions. 🧠 online now!

www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...

@talliezee.bsky.social @eahellerphd.bsky.social

ER remodelling is a feature of ageing and depends on ER-phagy - Nature Cell Biology Donahue et al. show that ageing is associated with changes in ER morphology. ER-phagy drives age-associated ER remodelling through tissue-specific factors.

ER remodelling is a feature of ageing and depends on ER-phagy
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Environmental enrichment and physical exercise prevent stress-induced social avoidance and blood-brain barrier alterations via Fgf2 - Nature Communications Chronic stress disrupts the brain vasculature and contributes to mood disorders, but mechanisms of resilience remain unclear. Here, the authors show that enriched environments increase astrocytic Fgf2...

Out in its final form! Congratulations @sejpaton.bsky.social @jolusolo.bsky.social Alice Cadoret @adelinec.bsky.social @luisa-binder.bsky.social Béatrice Daigle @laura-mb.bsky.social Laurence Dion-Albert @katarzynaadudek.bsky.social @manonlebel5.bsky.social 🥂🧠🤓

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Sex-dependent involvement of lateral septum astrocytes in social fear: Role of oxytocin receptor signaling https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.01.703181v1

Glia in Focus 🔬
Neuron–astrocyte co-culture: neurons (Map2; yellow) are infected with coxsackievirus B3 (blue), while astrocytes (GFAP; magenta) remain uninfected.

Stach et al., iScience (2026)
👇 https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)02585-4
#GliaResearch #Astrocytes #GlialCells

Development of the blood–brain barrier

👉Neural Progenitor-to-Endothelium
Wnt7a/7b-RECK-GPR124-FZD
Norrin-TSPAN12-LRP5/6-FZD4

👉Pericyte/Astrocyte-to-Endothelium
Angiotensin II
Angiopoietin 1
Shh

Circumventricular organ ❎BBB◀️WIF1

#Development 2026
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

Astrocytic response to traumatic brain injury to rescue neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction through mitochondrial transfer https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.22.701145v1

Single-cell-resolved spatial multi-omics identifies mTOR-driven neuronal and astroglial pathogenicity underlying epileptogenic focal cortical dysplasia https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.23.701175v1

IGF1 peptide targets Rett Syndrome astrocytes to degrade IGF binding protein, rescue synaptogenesis and restore mitochondrial function https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.22.701190v1