Migratory astrocyte subset drives CNS regeneration after astrocyte loss

Proliferation and migration of reactive astrocytes at the border of destructive CNS lesions are considered very limited. However, the regenerative behavior of individual astrocytes following selective astroglial loss, as seen in astrocytopathies such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, remains unexplored.

Here, we performed longitudinal in vivo imaging and temporospatial transcriptional profiling of cortical astrocytes after focal aquaporin-4 antibody-mediated astrocyte ablation in mice. Our findings define the molecular and cellular principles of astrocyte plasticity upon focal brain injury. A migratory subset of reactive astrocytes is fundamental for the restoration of astrocytic networks in the adult mammalian brain.