Astrocytes, the most representative glial cells in the brain, play a multitude of crucial functions for proper neuronal development and synaptic-network formation, including neuroprotection as well as physical and chemical support. However, little attention has been paid, in the neuroregenerative medicine and related fields, to the cytoprotective incorporation of astrocytes into neuron-culture scaffolds and full-fledged functional utilization of encapsulated astrocytes for controlled neuronal development. In this article, a 3D neurosupportive culture system for enhanced induction of neuronal circuit generation is reported, where astrocytes are confined in hydrogel microfibers and protected from the outside. The astrocyte-encapsulated microfibers significantly accelerate the neurite outgrowth and guide its directionality, and enhance the synaptic formation, without any physical contact with the neurons. This astrocyte-laden system provides a pivotal culture scaffold for advanced development of cell-based therapeutics for neural injuries, such as spinal cord injury.

中文翻译：

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星形胶质细胞包裹的水凝胶微纤维增强神经元回路的生成。

星形胶质细胞是大脑中最具代表性的神经胶质细胞，对神经元的正常发育和突触网络的形成起着至关重要的作用，包括神经保护以及物理和化学支持。然而，在神经再生医学和相关领域中，很少有人关注星形胶质细胞在神经元培养支架中的细胞保护掺入以及成熟的囊封星形胶质细胞功能性利用以控制神经元发育。在本文中，报道了用于增强诱导神经元回路生成的3D神经支持培养系统，其中星形胶质细胞被限制在水凝胶微纤维中并受到外界的保护。星形胶质细胞包裹的微纤维可显着加速神经突的生长并指导其方向性，并增强突触形成，而无需与神经元进行任何物理接触。这个充满星形胶质细胞的系统提供了一种关键的培养支架，用于先进开发基于细胞的神经损伤（例如脊髓损伤）疗法。