The head is one of the most complicated regions in the human body with many different types of tissues including nerves, muscles, bones, and vessels. As a result, neurocranial diseases are a group of complex diseases that include neurodegenerative disease, cerebrovascular disease, intracranial and skull base tumor. Recently, emerging evidence has shown the dynamic interaction between the central nervous system and the general immune system, and the traditional principle of "immune privilege of the central nervous system" has been abandoned. The immune microenvironment is a key factor affecting the progression of nervous system diseases. Various immune cells, extracellular matrix, cytokines, growth factors, etc. play a critical role in the immune microenvironment, thereby interfering with angiogenesis, cell death, oxidative stress, and immune escape. Meanwhile, regulatory molecules in the immune micro-environment are also essential for reversal or promotion, such as anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). To date, most of the clinical trials of immunotherapy on nervous system diseases are unsuccessful. This may be attributed to several factors, one of which is the highly immunosuppressive environment. However, the current knowledge on the ecology of the immune microenvironment is still limited and the connotative mechanism has not been fully clarified, either. In addition, there are still many unclear aspects of immune response in nerve excitability, synaptic development, neurotransmitter transmission, and so on.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a forum to advance research on the contribution of immunity response to the genesis and development of nervous system diseases as well as to explore innovative immune-oriented pharmacological interventions in the attempt to achieve a beneficial impact on the nervous system diseases. We welcome manuscripts from the following subtopics:
1) Identification of various immune genes, immune cells, and regulatory molecules associated with the immune micro-environment
2) Elucidation of the general mechanisms of immunosuppression, immune inflammation in cerebrovascular disease, and neurological tumors
3) Clarification of the possible immune mechanisms involved in the production and transmission of neurotransmitters, transporters, and signal molecules
4) Human and/or veterinary clinical trials using novel adoptive cell transfer or active immunotherapy against diseases (Cerebrovascular Disease and Neurological Tumors)
5) Combination studies – e.g., immune checkpoint inhibitors/vaccine/oncolytic virus therapy/chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy + Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy
6) Methods of targeting DCs/APCs
7) Drug delivery systems (novel nano-scale pharmaceutical carrier, transoperative drug delivery
The head is one of the most complicated regions in the human body with many different types of tissues including nerves, muscles, bones, and vessels. As a result, neurocranial diseases are a group of complex diseases that include neurodegenerative disease, cerebrovascular disease, intracranial and skull base tumor. Recently, emerging evidence has shown the dynamic interaction between the central nervous system and the general immune system, and the traditional principle of "immune privilege of the central nervous system" has been abandoned. The immune microenvironment is a key factor affecting the progression of nervous system diseases. Various immune cells, extracellular matrix, cytokines, growth factors, etc. play a critical role in the immune microenvironment, thereby interfering with angiogenesis, cell death, oxidative stress, and immune escape. Meanwhile, regulatory molecules in the immune micro-environment are also essential for reversal or promotion, such as anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). To date, most of the clinical trials of immunotherapy on nervous system diseases are unsuccessful. This may be attributed to several factors, one of which is the highly immunosuppressive environment. However, the current knowledge on the ecology of the immune microenvironment is still limited and the connotative mechanism has not been fully clarified, either. In addition, there are still many unclear aspects of immune response in nerve excitability, synaptic development, neurotransmitter transmission, and so on.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a forum to advance research on the contribution of immunity response to the genesis and development of nervous system diseases as well as to explore innovative immune-oriented pharmacological interventions in the attempt to achieve a beneficial impact on the nervous system diseases. We welcome manuscripts from the following subtopics:
1) Identification of various immune genes, immune cells, and regulatory molecules associated with the immune micro-environment
2) Elucidation of the general mechanisms of immunosuppression, immune inflammation in cerebrovascular disease, and neurological tumors
3) Clarification of the possible immune mechanisms involved in the production and transmission of neurotransmitters, transporters, and signal molecules
4) Human and/or veterinary clinical trials using novel adoptive cell transfer or active immunotherapy against diseases (Cerebrovascular Disease and Neurological Tumors)
5) Combination studies – e.g., immune checkpoint inhibitors/vaccine/oncolytic virus therapy/chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy + Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy
6) Methods of targeting DCs/APCs
7) Drug delivery systems (novel nano-scale pharmaceutical carrier, transoperative drug delivery