About this Research Topic
Astrocytes are integral partners of neural networks that control homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS) across molecular, cellular and network, metabolic, as well as whole brain levels of organization. Microglia, which are the resident CNS immune cells, play a particularly important role in the development, maturation, function, and plasticity of the brain across life.
This Research Topic focuses on the implication of neuroinflammation, notably mediated by microglia and astrocytes, in the neuropsychiatric and neurological aspects of COVID-19. Potential topics are not limited to:
1) how microglia and astrocytes exert together their beneficial functions, in coordination with oligodendrocytes and the neurovascular unit
2) how microglia, astrocytes and CNS-infiltrating immune cells become reactive when challenged by viral infection with COVID-19, thus resulting in neuroinflammation and changes in brain circuits leading to neuropsychiatric or neurological disorders
3) how microglia, astrocytes and infiltrating immune cells that are challenged with COVID-19 infection deal with stress, pollution, dietary imbalance, trauma, injury, as well as aging
4) the consequences of social isolation and psychological stress, in combination COVID-19 infection
Together, this knowledge will contribute to developing better-targeted therapies to preserve, improve or restore learning and memory, cognitive flexibility, stress resilience, sleep, metabolic fitness, and adaptation, among other essential CNS functions.
This Research Topic focuses on the implication of neuroinflammation, notably mediated by microglia and astrocytes, in the neuropsychiatric and neurological aspects of COVID-19. Potential topics are not limited to:
1) how microglia and astrocytes exert together their beneficial functions, in coordination with oligodendrocytes and the neurovascular unit
2) how microglia, astrocytes and CNS-infiltrating immune cells become reactive when challenged by viral infection with COVID-19, thus resulting in neuroinflammation and changes in brain circuits leading to neuropsychiatric or neurological disorders
3) how microglia, astrocytes and infiltrating immune cells that are challenged with COVID-19 infection deal with stress, pollution, dietary imbalance, trauma, injury, as well as aging
4) the consequences of social isolation and psychological stress, in combination COVID-19 infection
Together, this knowledge will contribute to developing better-targeted therapies to preserve, improve or restore learning and memory, cognitive flexibility, stress resilience, sleep, metabolic fitness, and adaptation, among other essential CNS functions.
Keywords: microglia, neuroinflammation, COVID-19, astrocytes, neuropsychiatric disease, neurological disorder
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