RNA-sequencing reveals astrocyte transcriptome alterations in response to chronic ethanol exposure

Astrocytes are critical for maintaining homeostasis and proper brain functioning, and have recently been identified as active contributors to information processing. While many studies have shown that astrocyte phenotype is altered by chronic alcohol consumption, it is unknown how alcohol exposure affects the astrocyte transcriptome and molecular function. Whole tissue human and mouse datasets from our lab point to a potential role for astrocytes in the brain ’s response to alcohol abuse, however it is still difficult to separate astrocyte-specific changes in vivo from those occurring in other cells.

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: E.K. Erickson, S.P. Farris, Y.A. Blednov, R.D. Mayfield, R.A. Harris Source Type: research