About this Research Topic

Background

Neurotrophins (NTs) are a family of peptide signal molecules with the specific trophic effect on neural cells. They show a pervasive and abundant expression throughout the neural system. NTs play a pivotal role in cell proliferation and differentiation, support neural tissue formation, muscle–neuron interaction, the organization of the central nervous system and nerve fiber network. In addition, NTs are essential for neuronal outgrowth and continuous regulation of processes such as synaptic transmission, long-term potentiation, and depreciation. In accordance with this, NTs for a long time were considered as potential treatment agents for many neurological diseases and disorders that could be related to diminished trophic actions. NTs could serve by either reversing the pathology and/or supporting neural tissue recovery with a functional restoration. Unfortunately, the usage of NTs for treatment is still very limited, which requires further study of molecular mechanisms of its action and approaches for its applications.

By understanding the key trophic role of NTs within the neural system we can potentially make a prognosis of its usage in medicine for a wide spectrum of neural pathology. However, evidence indicates both expectable as well as unpredictable troubles of NTs' application and lack of convincing medical effects. This highlights our limited knowledge of the role of NTs in various neural system diseases and disorders. This makes NTs' targeted application and effect prediction quite limited. The studies of NTs' action mechanisms from the view on its possible medical usage along with ideas of NTs' application for different neurological diseases and disorders are the scope of this Research Topic.

The aim of this Research Topic is to strengthen our understanding of the NTs' action in health and pathology of neurological diseases and disorders and introduce novel, advanced, and applicable methods and approaches for NTs' usage as treatment agents. By this means we welcome contributions of Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Methods, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, and Brief Research Report articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:

1. Molecular mechanisms of neurotrophin signaling and cell effects.

2. Neurotrophins in nervous system pathology.

3. New approaches for neurotrophin usage in therapy.

Keywords: Neurotrophins, neurotrophic factors, BDNF, NGF, NT-3, neurological diseases

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