Details for: CL0002627

Cell ID: CL0002627

Cell Name: mature astrocyte

Description: Mature astrocytes are reportedly able to produce aspartate, ATP, BDNF, BMP-2a, BMP-3, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CCL19, CCL20,CD40L, CNTF, CTGF, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL8, edn-1, aFGF, bFGF, G-CSF, glutamate, GM-CSF, IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, IGF-1, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, Il-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, LIF, MIP-2, NGF, nitric oxide, NT3, taurine, TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta.

Synonyms: activated astrocyte, mature astrocytic glia

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

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Score:
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Genes

Contexts:

Cell Significance Index (CSI) is uniquely calculated to reveal cell-specific gene markers. More info here

Significant Genes List

Genes with the highest and lowest Percentile Rank Scores (PRS) for mature astrocyte within the selected context(s).

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for mature astrocyte. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
(Previously described as "Fold Change", but now represents Cliff's Delta × –log10(p).)

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for mature astrocyte. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
Average CSI: csi sum / gene count
Cell network configuration

This network visualizes key genes for mature astrocyte. It primarily includes:
1. Top genes highly significant for this cell (Num. Top Cell Genes - based on the 'Min. CSI' setting).
2. Any additional specific 'Context Genes' you add below.
The final network is a combined view. Choose an Interaction Source (pathways or protein interactions) and optionally compare CSI scores with a Baseline Cell Type.

Maximum number of selected genes.
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Select a context for the target cell.
Target Cell for CSI:  mature astrocyte (CL0002627)

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Nodes (Genes):
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Node size also reflects Target Cell CSI magnitude.
Node Color (Target Cell CSI in specific network):
 Very High
 High
 Medium
 Low
 Very Low
 N/A or Not Sig.
Edges (Interactions):
 STRING (Protein-Protein)
 ONTOLOGY (Shared Pathway)
 Colors vary by pathway category; default arrow applies.

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## Summary The [mature astrocyte](/details-cell/CL0002627) is a glial cell of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by a highly specialized gene expression profile that underscores its dual function in providing structural support and actively regulating neural circuits. The data strongly highlight its identity through the specific expression of the canonical cytoskeletal protein [GFAP](/details-gene/2670), a vast array of cell adhesion molecules, and key components of neurotransmitter metabolism, particularly for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This molecular signature paints a picture of a cell integral to the physical architecture of the brain, the maintenance of synaptic integrity, and the dynamic modulation of neuronal communication. The high specificity of the long non-coding RNA [NEAT1](/details-gene/283131) further suggests that this complex cellular phenotype is maintained through sophisticated post-transcriptional and chromatin-level regulation. ## Key Characteristics and Function **Overall**, the gene significance profile of the [mature astrocyte](/details-cell/CL0002627) reveals a cell with multifaceted roles organized around several key biological themes. * **Structural and Synaptic Organization:** A defining characteristic is the expression of genes crucial for cytoskeletal integrity and intercellular adhesion. The high significance of [GFAP](/details-gene/2670), an intermediate filament protein, is a classical hallmark of this cell type ([Link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2740350/)). This is complemented by [MAP1B](/details-gene/4131), a microtubule-associated protein, and a remarkable enrichment of cell adhesion molecules. These include [CADM2](/details-gene/253559), [CDH10](/details-gene/1008), [NLGN1](/details-gene/22871), [LRRTM4](/details-gene/80059), [DSCAM](/details-gene/1826), and [CNTN1](/details-gene/1272). This suite of proteins indicates that astrocytes are fundamental in structuring the CNS microenvironment, organizing synaptic clefts, and mediating cell-cell recognition and signaling. * **Modulation of Inhibitory Neurotransmission:** The data strongly suggest that astrocytes are primary regulators of GABAergic signaling. The high specificity of both a GABA transporter, [SLC6A1](/details-gene/6529), and a GABA-A receptor subunit, [GABRB1](/details-gene/2560), is particularly noteworthy. This molecular pairing implies that astrocytes not only clear GABA from the synaptic space, thereby shaping the time course of inhibitory signals, but can also directly sense and respond to ambient GABA levels, potentially triggering downstream signaling cascades within the astrocyte itself. * **Neurodevelopment and Trophic Support:** The specific expression of [NRG3](/details-gene/10718), a ligand for the ErbB4 receptor, points to a role in intercellular signaling that influences the growth and survival of other neural cells, such as oligodendrocytes ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.02799)). Furthermore, the significance of [CADPS](/details-gene/8618), a Ca2+-dependent activator for secretion, provides a mechanistic basis for the cell's described ability to release a wide array of neuroactive substances, including growth factors and gliotransmitters. * **Transcriptional Identity:** The astrocyte's unique phenotype appears to be maintained by specific transcription factors and regulatory RNAs. [NPAS3](/details-gene/64067) is a brain-specific transcription factor shown to be significant, and its disruption has been linked to mental illness ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.40.5.325)). The top marker, [NEAT1](/details-gene/283131), is a nuclear lncRNA that organizes paraspeckles, suggesting that post-transcriptional gene regulation is a critical layer of control in establishing and maintaining astrocyte function. * **Metabolic Specialization:** The anti-marker profile is strikingly enriched for genes encoding core subunits of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, including multiple NADH dehydrogenase ([ND1](/details-gene/4535), [ND2](/details-gene/4536), [ND3](/details-gene/4537), [ND4](/details-gene/4538), [ND5](/details-gene/4540)), cytochrome c oxidase ([COX1](/details-gene/4512), [COX2](/details-gene/4513)), cytochrome b ([CYTB](/details-gene/4519)), and ATP synthase ([ATP6](/details-gene/4508)) components. The strong negative significance of these genes does not imply an absence of mitochondrial function but suggests that, relative to other cell types, mature astrocytes may rely less on oxidative phosphorylation. This is consistent with hypotheses of astrocyte-neuron metabolic coupling, where astrocytes may favor glycolysis and provide lactate as an energy substrate to neurons. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles The gene expression landscape of mature astrocytes has significant implications for neurological health and disease. The high specificity of [GFAP](/details-gene/2670) is foundational to its use as a clinical biomarker for astrogliosis, a reactive process common to CNS injury, neurodegeneration, and inflammation. Dysfunction in astrocyte-specific genes may contribute directly to disease pathogenesis. For example, the disruption of the transcription factor [NPAS3](/details-gene/64067) has been identified in a family with schizophrenia, suggesting that aberrant astrocyte gene regulation could be a factor in psychiatric disorders ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.40.5.325)). The specific expression of [CTNND2](/details-gene/1501), which encodes a catenin that interacts with presenilin 1 ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1097/00001756-199705260-00054)), positions astrocytes as potential players in the molecular pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Given their central role in regulating GABAergic tone through transporters like [SLC6A1](/details-gene/6529), astrocytes are also implicated in conditions of neuronal hyperexcitability, such as epilepsy. Impaired astrocytic GABA uptake could lead to a breakdown of synaptic inhibition and contribute to seizure generation. Similarly, the array of cell adhesion molecules such as [DSCAM](/details-gene/1826), a gene located in the Down syndrome critical region, points to a role for astrocytes in neurodevelopmental disorders where synaptic wiring and stability are compromised ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/7.2.227)). ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis:** Mature astrocytes function as central hubs for the spatial and temporal regulation of inhibitory neurotransmission, utilizing a specialized molecular toolkit ([SLC6A1](/details-gene/6529), [GABRB1](/details-gene/2560)) to actively shape the GABAergic landscape of the CNS. * **Surprising Findings:** The high Z-score for both a GABA transporter and a GABA receptor subunit within a glial cell is striking. It suggests a more active and bidirectional role in synaptic modulation than traditionally appreciated, positioning astrocytes not just as janitors that clear neurotransmitters but as integrated sensors and responders in the inhibitory circuit. * **Testable Questions:** How does astrocyte-specific knockout of [GABRB1](/details-gene/2560) affect calcium signaling within astrocytes in response to local neuronal firing, and what are the subsequent effects on local network oscillations in vivo? 2. **Hypothesis:** The strong negative signature for core mitochondrial respiratory chain genes reflects a fundamental metabolic specialization of mature astrocytes toward aerobic glycolysis. This phenotype may be critical for providing lactate and other metabolic substrates to fuel the high energetic demands of neuronal oxidative phosphorylation, a process known as the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle. * **Surprising Findings:** The breadth and magnitude of the negative signature across multiple, distinct complexes of the electron transport chain ([ND1](/details-gene/4535), [COX1](/details-gene/4512), [CYTB](/details-gene/4519)) is unexpected. It strongly suggests this is not a stochastic finding but a deeply programmed feature of the cell's identity, distinguishing it metabolically from surrounding neurons. * **Testable Questions:** Does isotopic tracing with 13C-glucose in co-cultures reveal a preferential flux through glycolysis to lactate in astrocytes, and is this lactate subsequently taken up and oxidized by neurons? Furthermore, does this metabolic coupling intensify during periods of high synaptic activity?