There is a growing interest in astrocytes as glial cells in the central nervous system due to their important role in maintaining brain tissue homeostasis both under physiological conditions and after brain injury. A significant amount of evidence has been accumulated regarding their capacity to exert either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects under different pathological conditions. In combination with their known high proliferative potential, they contribute not only to the limitation of brain damage and tissue remodeling but also to neuronal repair and the recovery of synaptic contacts in neurons. Moreover, reactive astroglia modulates the processes of neurogenesis, proliferation, and migration of neurons in the existing neural circuits in the adult brain. The identification of specific niche signals that regulate these sequential steps during adult neurogenesis may lead to the development of strategies for inducing functional neurogenesis in other areas of the brain after an injury or in degenerative neurological diseases.
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