Astrocytes regulate central nervous system development, maintain its homeostasis and orchestrate repair upon injury. Emerging evidence support functional specialization of astroglia, both between and within brain regions. Different subtypes of gray matter astrocytes have been identified, yet molecular and functional diversity of white matter astrocytes remains largely unexplored. Nonetheless, their important and diverse roles in maintaining white matter integrity and function are well recognized. Compelling evidence indicate that impairment of normal astrocytic function and their response to injury contribute to a wide variety of diseases, including white matter disorders. In this review, we highlight our current understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity in the white matter of the mammalian brain and how an interplay between developmental origins and local environmental cues contribute to astroglial diversification. In addition, we discuss whether, and if so, how, heterogeneous astrocytes could contribute to white matter function in health and disease and focus on the sparse human research data available. We highlight four leukodystrophies primarily due to astrocytic dysfunction, the so-called astrocytopathies. Insight into the role of astroglial heterogeneity in both healthy and diseased white matter may provide new avenues for therapies aimed at promoting repair and restoring normal white matter function.

星形胶质细胞调节中枢神经系统发育，维持其体内平衡并协调损伤后的修复。新出现的证据支持星形胶质细胞在大脑区域之间和大脑区域内的功能特化。已经确定了灰质星形胶质细胞的不同亚型，但白质星形胶质细胞的分子和功能多样性在很大程度上仍未探索。尽管如此，它们在维持白质完整性和功能方面的重要和多样化作用已得到广泛认可。令人信服的证据表明，正常星形胶质细胞功能的损害及其对损伤的反应会导致多种疾病，包括白质疾病。在本次审查中，我们强调了我们目前对哺乳动物大脑白质中星形胶质细胞异质性的理解，以及发育起源和局部环境线索之间的相互作用如何促进星形胶质细胞的多样化。此外，我们讨论了异质星形胶质细胞是否以及如何有助于健康和疾病中的白质功能，并关注可用的稀疏人类研究数据。我们重点介绍了四种主要由星形细胞功能障碍引起的白细胞营养不良，即所谓的星形细胞病。深入了解星形胶质细胞异质性在健康和患病白质中的作用可能为旨在促进修复和恢复正常白质功能的治疗提供新途径。异质星形胶质细胞可能有助于健康和疾病中的白质功能，并专注于可用的稀疏人类研究数据。我们重点介绍了四种主要由星形细胞功能障碍引起的白细胞营养不良，即所谓的星形细胞病。深入了解星形胶质细胞异质性在健康和患病白质中的作用可能为旨在促进修复和恢复正常白质功能的治疗提供新途径。异质星形胶质细胞可能有助于健康和疾病中的白质功能，并专注于可用的稀疏人类研究数据。我们重点介绍了四种主要由星形细胞功能障碍引起的白细胞营养不良，即所谓的星形细胞病。深入了解星形胶质细胞异质性在健康和患病白质中的作用可能为旨在促进修复和恢复正常白质功能的治疗提供新途径。