Development, physiological functions, and pathologies of the brain depend on tight interactions between neurons and different types of glial cells, such as astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Assessing the relative contribution of different glial cell types is required for the full understanding of brain function and dysfunction. Over the recent years, several technological breakthroughs were achieved, allowing “glio‐scientists” to address new challenging biological questions. These technical developments make it possible to study the roles of specific cell types with medium or high‐content workflows and perform fine analysis of their mutual interactions in a preserved environment. This review illustrates the potency of several cutting‐edge experimental approaches (advanced cell cultures, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)‐derived human glial cells, viral vectors, in situ glia imaging, opto‐ and chemogenetic approaches, and high‐content molecular analysis) to unravel the role of glial cells in specific brain functions or diseases. It also illustrates the translation of some techniques to the clinics, to monitor glial cells in patients, through specific brain imaging methods. The advantages, pitfalls, and future developments are discussed for each technique, and selected examples are provided to illustrate how specific “gliobiological” questions can now be tackled.

中文翻译：

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研究胶质细胞的新兴技术。

大脑的发育、生理功能和病理取决于神经元与不同类型神经胶质细胞（如星形胶质细胞、小胶质细胞、少突胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞前体细胞）之间的紧密相互作用。评估不同神经胶质细胞类型的相对贡献是全面了解大脑功能和功能障碍所必需的。近年来，取得了多项技术突破，使“神经胶质科学家”能够解决新的具有挑战性的生物学问题。这些技术发展使研究具有中等或高含量工作流程的特定细胞类型的作用成为可能，并在保存的环境中对它们的相互作用进行精细分析。这篇综述说明了几种前沿实验方法（高级细胞培养、诱导多能干细胞 (iPSC) 衍生的人神经胶质细胞、病毒载体、原位神经胶质成像、光和化学遗传学方法以及高内涵分子分析）以阐明神经胶质细胞在特定脑功能或疾病中的作用。它还说明了一些技术在诊所的应用，通过特定的脑成像方法监测患者的神经胶质细胞。讨论了每种技术的优点、缺陷和未来发展，并提供了选定的例子来说明现在如何解决特定的“胶质生物学”问题。它还说明了一些技术在诊所的应用，通过特定的脑成像方法监测患者的神经胶质细胞。讨论了每种技术的优点、缺陷和未来发展，并提供了选定的例子来说明现在如何解决特定的“胶质生物学”问题。它还说明了一些技术在诊所的应用，通过特定的脑成像方法监测患者的神经胶质细胞。讨论了每种技术的优点、缺陷和未来发展，并提供了选定的例子来说明现在如何解决特定的“胶质生物学”问题。