Astrocytes are structurally complex with numerous branched processes that allow functional interactions with the blood-brain barrier (BBB), synaptic cleft, and other glia (Vasile et al., 2017). Throughout development and adulthood, astrocytes perform diverse roles in the CNS, including regulating synapse maturation, water balance, ion and neurotransmitter homeostasis, inflammatory responses, and BBB permeability (Sofroniew, 2015; Szu and Binder, 2016; Tong et al., 2014). Fig. 2 shows an overview of functional changes in astrocytes following alcohol-induced neuroinflammation.
