Astrocytes, a predominant glial population in the human central nervous system, normally play critical roles in neuroprotection, immunity, and homeostasis. However, upon exposure to specific neuroinflammatory cues, astrocytes assume apro-inflammatory, neurotoxic phenotype. Neurotoxic astrocytes promote chronic neuroinflammation, a common driver of many neurodegenerative diseases.

Thus, identifying and targeting the signalling pathways that lead to the formation of neurotoxic astrocytes can provide novel therapeutic approaches to curb neurodegeneration. The aim of this study is to identify novel therapeutic targets in human astrocytes, then predict and test candidate compounds that have the potential to inhibit or reverse the pro-inflammatory neurotoxic phenotype.