Glia have an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease, (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, glia are highly involved in neurodegeneration in autoimmune neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Glial cells are the main cell population in the nervous system, with different types of glial cells, such as astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and neuron-glial antigen-2 (NG2 glia). Glia have critical roles in neuronal function such as surrounding neurons and holding them in place, supplying them with nutrients and oxygen, insulating neurons from each other, and removing pathogens and dead neurons.
In neurodegenerative or autoimmune neurological disorders, the involvement of glial cells in disease pathogenesis has been well documented. For instance, there is microglial activation at the early stages of PD, and oligodendrocyte dysfunction in MS. The dysregulation of glial cells is a common and key feature in autoimmune neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, which is tightly associated with disease pathogenesis. With the single-cell analysis, it becomes possible to classify glial cells into multiple groups and to identify the roles in different conditions. Importantly, peripheral immune cells are also involved in disease pathogenesis in neurodegenerative and autoimmune neurological diseases. Up to date, there is no restorative treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, and patients with autoimmune neurological disorders have a high risk of relapse. It is therefore important to determine the mechanisms by which glial dysfunction occurs and how glia induce neuronal damage. The determination of the mechanisms and molecules that are related to disease pathogenesis will lead to new therapeutic strategies.
This Research Topic aims to collect high-quality reviews, original research articles, and perspectives that reveal the roles of glial cells in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on but not limited to:
(1) The role of astrocyte, microglia, oligodendrocyte, NG2, etc. in neurodegeneration;
(2) Spatial and temporal diversity of glial phenotypes in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases;
(3) Glia crosstalk in neurodegeneration;
(4) The pathological role of glia in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases;
(5) Interactions between glia and neurons in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases;
(6) Single-cell analysis of glial modulation in disease models;
(7) Therapeutic strategies and clinical interventions by the modulation of glial cell function in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases;
(8) Clinical studies on neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.
Glia have an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease, (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, glia are highly involved in neurodegeneration in autoimmune neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Glial cells are the main cell population in the nervous system, with different types of glial cells, such as astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and neuron-glial antigen-2 (NG2 glia). Glia have critical roles in neuronal function such as surrounding neurons and holding them in place, supplying them with nutrients and oxygen, insulating neurons from each other, and removing pathogens and dead neurons.
In neurodegenerative or autoimmune neurological disorders, the involvement of glial cells in disease pathogenesis has been well documented. For instance, there is microglial activation at the early stages of PD, and oligodendrocyte dysfunction in MS. The dysregulation of glial cells is a common and key feature in autoimmune neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, which is tightly associated with disease pathogenesis. With the single-cell analysis, it becomes possible to classify glial cells into multiple groups and to identify the roles in different conditions. Importantly, peripheral immune cells are also involved in disease pathogenesis in neurodegenerative and autoimmune neurological diseases. Up to date, there is no restorative treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, and patients with autoimmune neurological disorders have a high risk of relapse. It is therefore important to determine the mechanisms by which glial dysfunction occurs and how glia induce neuronal damage. The determination of the mechanisms and molecules that are related to disease pathogenesis will lead to new therapeutic strategies.
This Research Topic aims to collect high-quality reviews, original research articles, and perspectives that reveal the roles of glial cells in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on but not limited to:
(1) The role of astrocyte, microglia, oligodendrocyte, NG2, etc. in neurodegeneration;
(2) Spatial and temporal diversity of glial phenotypes in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases;
(3) Glia crosstalk in neurodegeneration;
(4) The pathological role of glia in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases;
(5) Interactions between glia and neurons in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases;
(6) Single-cell analysis of glial modulation in disease models;
(7) Therapeutic strategies and clinical interventions by the modulation of glial cell function in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases;
(8) Clinical studies on neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.
