Astrocyte-neuron Crosstalk in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A fundamental feature shared across neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) is the disruption of synaptic circuit formation and homeostasis. During early life, non-neuronal cells called astrocytes tightly regulate the establishment of circuits by controlling formation, remodeling, stabilization, and maturation of synapses. Concurrently, astrocytes mature to meet the evolving needs of the developing brain. Bidirectional astrocyte-neuron communication synchronizes astrocyte maturation with synapse development. An emerging body of evidence supports the hypothesis that in NDDs, deficits in astrocyte-neuron communication underlie errors in synaptic circuit development. Here we will review and discuss these findings, with the aim of inspiring future research and guiding translational studies.