TY - JOUR TI - Activity-dependent modulation of synapse-regulating genes in astrocytes AU - Farhy-Tselnicker, Isabella AU - Boisvert, Matthew M AU - Liu, Hanqing AU - Dowling, Cari AU - Erikson, Galina A AU - Blanco-Suarez, Elena AU - Farhy, Chen AU - Shokhirev, Maxim N AU - Ecker, Joseph R AU - Allen, Nicola J A2 - Stevens, Beth A2 - Chen, Lu A2 - Stevens, Beth VL - 10 PY - 2021 DA - 2021/09/08 SP - e70514 C1 - eLife 2021;10:e70514 DO - 10.7554/eLife.70514 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.70514 AB - Astrocytes regulate the formation and function of neuronal synapses via multiple signals; however, what controls regional and temporal expression of these signals during development is unknown. We determined the expression profile of astrocyte synapse-regulating genes in the developing mouse visual cortex, identifying astrocyte signals that show differential temporal and layer-enriched expression. These patterns are not intrinsic to astrocytes, but regulated by visually evoked neuronal activity, as they are absent in mice lacking glutamate release from thalamocortical terminals. Consequently, synapses remain immature. Expression of synapse-regulating genes and synaptic development is also altered when astrocyte signaling is blunted by diminishing calcium release from astrocyte stores. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing identified groups of astrocytic genes regulated by neuronal and astrocyte activity, and a cassette of genes that show layer-specific enrichment. Thus, the development of cortical circuits requires coordinated signaling between astrocytes and neurons, highlighting astrocytes as a target to manipulate in neurodevelopmental disorders. KW - astrocytes KW - synaptic terminals KW - visual development KW - gene expression KW - neuronal activity JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -