Brain hypoxia and ischemia: new insights into neurodegeneration and neuroprotection

  • 23k

    Total Downloads

  • 109k

    Total Views and Downloads

Download PDFDownload EPUB

Submit your idea

You will be redirected to our submission process.

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

Impaired oxygen (hypoxia) or reduced blood flow (ischemia) to the brain is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans resulting in cognitive impairment, seizures, and other neurological disabilities. Ischaemic stroke is the third leading cause of death in Western countries, behind only heart disease and cancer. Hypoxia is known to have a significant effect on cellular functions with an immediate response by membrane lipids and enzymes and with long-term changes in gene expression and levels of protein synthesis. Much data has accumulated to suggest that vascular factors and the levels of oxygen supply to the brain are linked with pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders, in particular, of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and their progression. Brain hypoxia also affects behavioural and cognitive abilities, e.g. learning and memory, of individuals and their neurological status. Hypoxia during the prenatal period or in labour affects significantly brain development and functions in later life and predisposes to various cognitive abnormalities.


Although there are numerous studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying effects of hypoxia and ischemia there are still no pharmacological treatments available to reduce cell death in the ischaemic/hypoxic brain. Endogenously, the central nervous system can withstand cerebral hypoxia or ischemia for a limited amount of time, a phenomenon called primary hypoxic–ischaemic tolerance. With an appropriate time interval and dosage, when a non-injurious hypoxic exposure (known as preconditioning) is performed before a potentially lethal hypoxic–ischaemic stress, tolerance can be increased and cells protected. Furthermore, the hypoxic preconditioning-induced neuronal tolerance appears to be universal and represents increased resistance not only to hypoxic/ischaemic insults but also to other injurious factors including various types of stress. Although little is still known about the mechanisms of hypoxic preconditioning, however, a recent genomic study identified a number of genes which may contribute to hypoxia-induced tolerance.


This Research Topic aims at a multifaceted approach to evaluate recent progress in our understanding of the effects of hypoxia and ischemia on the brain at the molecular, morphological and physiological levels and how preconditioning by intermittent mild hypoxia can protect the brain improving its functioning and reducing pathology.


The research articles and review papers are encouraged from scientists working in the areas of i) brain membrane biochemistry, including lipids and proteins; ii) molecular biology (effect of hypoxia and ischemia on gene expression, role of miRNAs); iii) morphological analysis of brain structure after hypoxia or ischemia; iv) studies of membrane channels and processing of complex membrane proteins such as the amyloid precursor protein; v) changes in expression and functions of matrix metalloproteases, as well as amyloid-degrading enzymes and other proteins involved in amyloid clearance; vi) perivascular status of the brain and functions of the blood brain barrier; vii) role of hypoxia and ischemia in development of cognitive functions and neurological disorders; viii) protective mechanism of hypoxic preconditioning and its possible therapeutic applications

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Participating Journals

Impact

  • 109kTopic views
  • 78kArticle views
  • 23kArticle downloads
View impact