Cortical and Spinal Cord Gli1+ Astrocyte Transcriptomes

Astrocytes responsive to the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, indicated by expression of the target gene Gli1, are distributed in discrete regions of the central nervous system. Utilizing a number of conditional genetic and pharmacologic methods to inactivate the Hh pathway, we have demonstrated a critical role for Gli1+ astrocytes in maintaining integrity of the blood-brain barrier in a regionally-dependent manner. The goal of this analysis was to identify regionally distinct transcriptomic signatures of Hh responsive (Gli1+) astrocytes in the cortex and spinal cord of adult mice.