I am guessing this is probably because of their special function inside and outside the brain.
I think, (a few) other cells can express it as well; it may be very challenging to try to correlate a function of one cell type just to one protein, but astrocytes usually appear to be less interesting than the neurones. Only recently, they were attributed with quite fascinating functions of protecting the neurons from many harms, but this appears to be the cause, why some of the most malignant brain tumors are difficult to cure: the astrocytes appear to protect also the brain tumor cells. This may not relate much to your question.
Astrocytes are special type of neuroglial ( supporting) cells that are found in the nervous system. They are known to have many important functions within the nervous system. The cyctoskeletal protein components play important roles in shaping the cell in such a way that enables it to perform its function properly, and facilitates its communication with other cells.
I would say because of the function it performs. The end feet processes at the tight junctions at Blood brain barrier, the vascular functions, and the scaffolding functions, to name a few, are important attributes of the astroglia in CNS. All these functions require a specific cytoskeletal architecture, and hence the need of the cytoskeletal proteins.
Not that astrocytes are the only cells having cytosketal filament. Neurons themselves have 'Neurofilaments' as cytoskeletal filaments which are highly specialised and crucial for neurons.
In my opinion,astroglial cells are known for several functions depending upon theirs shape, size and stages. All over they are nourishing cells and the cells which protect neurons. They also keep sensing the neuronal environment , and if they sense any thing unusaul, they communicate faster to protect neurons. Therefore, they have some special cytoskeleton protien that expresses at different times to deal with different functions.
Astrocytes do not have special cytoskeletal elements not found in other cells if you are refering to intermdiate filaments (GFAP being a common "marker" for astrocytes). GFAP in humans, which has the most restrictive GFAP expression by cell type, can be found in the leydig cells of the testis, podocytes of the kidney and hepatic stellate cells. In lower vertebrates, such as mice, the number of cell types which express GFAP is increased. Nestin and Vimentin can also be found in many cell types in humans. GFAP has been shown to anchor GLT-1 at the membrane, which links it to glumatate homeostasis in the brain but it is not clear what other roles it may have.
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