# CD51 marker reveals functionally distinct astrocyte subtypes in neural circuits

Researchers report that the cell-surface marker CD51 distinguishes astrocyte subtypes with different functional roles in neural circuits. The finding helps clarify how astrocytes are specialized within the brain and could inform future studies of circuit function and neurological disease.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Science
- [Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-11186-z) — 2026-10-21