The role of astrocytes in alcohol abuse and addiction mechanisms

Background Alcohol abuse and addiction represent significant worldwide public health challenges impacting both individuals and communities, leading to various physiological, psychological, and neurobiological effects. Research studies showed that glial cells, particularly astrocytes, are important in the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorders (AUDs), even though a lot of focus has been placed on the role of neurons in alcohol-induced brain damage. They express excitatory amino acid transporters (EAAT1 and EAAT2), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), brain-derived growth factor (BDGF), Toll-like receptor 4 (TRL4), and nuclear factor kappalight-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFK-B), all crucial for their regulatory roles. Objectives This review seeks to clarify the influence of astrocytes on alcohol addiction by exploring their roles, interactions with neurons, and the molecular processes that underlie alcohol-related disorders. Methods The review utilized 52 research articles across several databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholars. Based on their available data, a depth comprehensive review was done on 41 screened research articles and scholar opinions. Results Therefore, we concentrated on the cellular changes observed in nucleus accumbens core (NAc) astrocytes following alcohol exposure. Research studies utilizing animal models of addiction and relapse indicate that alcohol-seeking behavior is associated with modifications in cortico-accumbal plasticity due to chronic alcohol exposure. Conclusions Importantly, maladaptive reactions to alcohol resulted in lifelong alterations in protein expression within accumbal astrocytes that are essential for glutamate balance. These alterations contribute to the dysregulation of glutamate signaling in the cortico-accumbens circuit, correlating with the resurgence of drug-seeking behavior. Grasping the complex relationships between astrocytes and alcohol abuse may provide new insights for developing focused therapeutic strategies for alcohol addiction.