Astrocytes are the most numerous type of neuroglia in the brain and have a predominant influence on the cerebrovascular system; they control perivascular homeostasis, the integrity of the blood–brain barrier, the dialogue with the peripheral immune system, the transfer of metabolites from the blood, and blood vessel contractility in response to neuronal activity. These regulatory processes occur in a specialized interface composed of perivascular astrocyte extensions that almost completely cover the cerebral blood vessels. Scientists have only recently started to study how this interface is formed and how it influences cerebrovascular functions. Here, we review the literature on the astrocytes' role in the regulation of the cerebrovascular system. We cover the anatomy and development of the gliovascular interface, the known gliovascular functions, and molecular factors, the latter's implication in certain pathophysiological situations, and recent cutting‐edge experimental tools developed to examine the astrocytes' role at the vascular interface. Finally, we highlight some open questions in this field of research.

中文翻译：

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星形胶质细胞调节脑血管功能

星形胶质细胞是大脑中数量最多的神经胶质细胞类型，对脑血管系统具有主要影响；它们控制血管周围的稳态、血脑屏障的完整性、与外周免疫系统的对话、血液中代谢物的转移以及血管对神经元活动的反应。这些调节过程发生在一个专门的界面中，该界面由几乎完全覆盖脑血管的血管周围星形胶质细胞延伸组成。科学家们最近才开始研究这种界面是如何形成的，以及它如何影响脑血管功能。在这里，我们回顾了有关星形胶质细胞在脑血管系统调节中的作用的文献。我们涵盖了胶质血管界面的解剖学和发展，已知的胶质血管功能和分子因素，后者在某些病理生理情况下的意义，以及最近开发的用于检查星形胶质细胞在血管界面的作用的尖端实验工具。最后，我们强调了该研究领域的一些开放性问题。