Cell-autonomous regulation of astrocyte activation by the circadian clock protein BMAL1
SummaryCircadian clock dysfunction is a common symptom of aging and neurodegenerative diseases, though its impact on brain health is poorly understood. Astrocyte activation occurs in response to diverse insults, and plays a critical role in brain health and disease. We report that the core clock protein BMAL1 regulates astrogliosis in a synergistic manner via a cell-autonomous mechanism, and via a lesser non-cell-autonomous signal from neurons. Astrocyte-specific Bmal1 deletion induces astrocyte activation in vitro and in vivo, mediated in part by suppression of glutathione-s-transferase signaling. Functionally, loss of Bmal1 in astrocytes promotes neuronal death in vitro. Our results demonstrate that the core clock protein BMAL1 regulates astrocyte activation and function in vivo, elucidating a novel mechanism by which the circadian clock could influence many aspects of brain function and neurologic disease.HighlightsCircadian disruption promotes astrocyte activation.Astrocyte-specific deletion of the circadian clock gene BMAL1 induces astrocyte activation.BMAL1 regulates astrocyte activation by altering glutathione-s-transferase signaling.Loss of astrocyte BMAL1 enhances neuronal cell death in a co-culture system.eTOC blurbLananna et al. show that the circadian clock protein BMAL1 regulates astrocyte activation via a cell autonomous-mechanism involving diminished glutathione-s-transferase signaling. This finding elucidates a novel function of the core circadian clock in astrocytes, and reveals a BMAL1 as a modulator of astrogliosis.