Utilizing databases for astrocyte secretome research

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the central nervous system (CNS). They play a pivotal role in supporting neuronal function and maintaining homeostasis by releasing a variety of bioactive proteins, collectively known as the astrocyte secretome. Investigating secretome provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying astrocyte function and dysfunction, as well as novel strategies to prevent and treat diseases affecting the CNS.

Areas covered

Proteomics databases are a valuable resource for studying the role of astrocytes in healthy and diseased brain function, as they provide information about gene expression, protein expression, and cellular function. In this review, we discuss existing databases that are useful for astrocyte secretome research.

Expert opinion

Astrocyte secretomics is a field that is rapidly progressing, yet the availability of dedicated databases is currently limited. To meet the increasing demand for comprehensive omics data in glia research, developing databases specifically focused on astrocyte secretome is crucial. Such databases would allow researchers to investigate the intricate molecular landscape of astrocytes and comprehend their involvement in diverse physiological and pathological processes. Expanding resources through the development of databases dedicated to the astrocyte secretome may facilitate further advancements in this field.

KEYWORDS:

• Astrocyte
• central nervous system
• database
• proteomics
• secretome

Article highlights

• Investigating the astrocyte secretome offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying physiological astrocytic functions and provides potential strategies for the prevention and treatment of CNS diseases.

• While there are several glial databases and resources available for studying astrocytes, there is a lack of dedicated databases specifically focused on the astrocyte secretome.

• It is imperative to expand the available resources detailing the astrocyte secretome; for instance, developing dedicated databases will contribute to further advancements in this important area of glia research.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication. JH Kim, R Afridi, and K Suk formulated the focus of this review. R Afridi and WH Lee conducted the literature review and participated in the discussion. JH Kim and K Suk wrote the manuscript. WH Lee and K Suk revised and critically reviewed.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF), which is funded by the Korean government (MSIP) (NRF-2017R1A5A2015391, 2020M3E5D9079764).