{"title":"Astrocytes in Fear Memory Processing: Molecular Mechanisms Across the Amygdala-Hippocampus-Prefrontal Cortex Network.","authors":"Young-Rae Kim, Moonhyung Lee, Man S Kim","doi":"10.3390/cells14181444","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fear memory is a critical adaptive process that enables organisms to avoid potential threats and survive in complex environments. Traditionally viewed as a neuronal phenomenon, emerging evidence has demonstrated that astrocytes play a fundamental role in fear memory acquisition, consolidation, extinction, and retrieval across the distributed neural network encompassing the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. This review presents recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which astrocytes modulate fear memory processing within the tripartite circuit. We examine how astrocytes contribute to synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter regulation, metabolic support, and intercellular communication during the different phases of fear memory processing. Particular emphasis is placed on the region-specific functions of astrocytes, their dynamic interactions with neurons, and their therapeutic implications for treating fear-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders. The integration of cutting-edge technologies, including spatial transcriptomics, optogenetics, and chemogenetics, has revealed sophisticated astrocyte-neuron communication mechanisms that challenge the traditional neuron-centric view of memory processing.</p>","PeriodicalId":9743,"journal":{"name":"Cells","volume":"14 18","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468344/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Cells","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14181444","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CELL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Fear memory is a critical adaptive process that enables organisms to avoid potential threats and survive in complex environments. Traditionally viewed as a neuronal phenomenon, emerging evidence has demonstrated that astrocytes play a fundamental role in fear memory acquisition, consolidation, extinction, and retrieval across the distributed neural network encompassing the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. This review presents recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which astrocytes modulate fear memory processing within the tripartite circuit. We examine how astrocytes contribute to synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter regulation, metabolic support, and intercellular communication during the different phases of fear memory processing. Particular emphasis is placed on the region-specific functions of astrocytes, their dynamic interactions with neurons, and their therapeutic implications for treating fear-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders. The integration of cutting-edge technologies, including spatial transcriptomics, optogenetics, and chemogenetics, has revealed sophisticated astrocyte-neuron communication mechanisms that challenge the traditional neuron-centric view of memory processing.
CellsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all)
CiteScore
9.90
自引率
5.00%
发文量
3472
审稿时长
16 days
期刊介绍:
Cells (ISSN 2073-4409) is an international, peer-reviewed open access journal which provides an advanced forum for studies related to cell biology, molecular biology and biophysics. It publishes reviews, research articles, communications and technical notes. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as possible. There is no restriction on the length of the papers. Full experimental and/or methodical details must be provided.