Fig. 4

Possible astrocyte-focused strategies to treat proteinopathies. The figure recapitulates the modalities of α-Syn and Tau transmission from neurons to astrocytes, as well as the possible fate of the ingested proteins. Moreover, possible strategies to treat proteinopathies are highlighted, such as the use of monoclonal antibodies fused with GAS6 to specifically direct phagocytosis (1) the application of anti-TLRs antibodies (2) and gene therapy/gene editing (3) to regulate the internalization of amyloid proteins; the use of drugs to modulate the interaction of amyloid proteins with receptors like HSPG or LRP-1 (4) or to reduce the release of toxic protein within exosomes (5). Moreover, the transplantation of patients’ derived astrocytes may represent an alternative therapeutic approach to favor extracellular clearance (6)