Neurodegenerative diseases are usually characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins and malfunction of proteasomal, autophagosomal, lysosomal, or mitochondrial systems, which lead to a progressive loss of vulnerable populations of neurons in specific CNS regions. Glial cells and neuroinflammation are key contributors to the neurodegenerative process but their precise role remains unclear. A better understanding of cell-cell communication will contribute to unveil the pathophysiological mechanisms that trigger neurodegeneration and will help to find specific targets for modulation.
Multiple different messengers can be carried in secretome/extracellular vesicles (EVs) to long distances from the cellular origin, contributing to the maintenance and spread of pathological processes that depend on cell-to-cell communication. Among those messengers, microRNAs have been proposed not only as diagnostic biomarkers but also as therapeutic targets, since they target multiple genes, are highly conserved between species, and can be engineered through several drug delivery systems.
This Research Topic intends to bring together, in a holistic overview, new advances in therapeutic strategies that target intercellular and/or intracellular communication to rescue neurodegeneration. It will focus on neuronal-glial pathophysiological mechanisms in the several existing models of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as on the potential usage of secretome/extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo as biomarkers and/or targets for modulation. Our Research Topic will also focus on the recent drug delivery systems that target neuroinflammation and neuronal-glial cell communication and how they can be used as effective therapeutic applications for neurodegenerative diseases.
This Research Topic especially welcomes Original Research and Review articles that deal with current knowledge in therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. We welcome the following subtopics, but not limited to:
- Intercellular and/or intracellular communication mechanisms that are compromised in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or age-related macular degeneration (AMD);
- The usage of secretome and extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo as biomarkers and targets for modulation in central nervous system (CNS) diseases;
- Therapeutic strategies that target neuroinflammation and messengers involved in neuronal-glial communication, such as miRNAs;
- Preclinical and clinical studies based on the use of secretome and extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo as drug delivery systems to overcome neurodegeneration.
We also encourage colleagues working in emerging technologies for CNS repair to submit their research.
Neurodegenerative diseases are usually characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins and malfunction of proteasomal, autophagosomal, lysosomal, or mitochondrial systems, which lead to a progressive loss of vulnerable populations of neurons in specific CNS regions. Glial cells and neuroinflammation are key contributors to the neurodegenerative process but their precise role remains unclear. A better understanding of cell-cell communication will contribute to unveil the pathophysiological mechanisms that trigger neurodegeneration and will help to find specific targets for modulation.
Multiple different messengers can be carried in secretome/extracellular vesicles (EVs) to long distances from the cellular origin, contributing to the maintenance and spread of pathological processes that depend on cell-to-cell communication. Among those messengers, microRNAs have been proposed not only as diagnostic biomarkers but also as therapeutic targets, since they target multiple genes, are highly conserved between species, and can be engineered through several drug delivery systems.
This Research Topic intends to bring together, in a holistic overview, new advances in therapeutic strategies that target intercellular and/or intracellular communication to rescue neurodegeneration. It will focus on neuronal-glial pathophysiological mechanisms in the several existing models of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as on the potential usage of secretome/extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo as biomarkers and/or targets for modulation. Our Research Topic will also focus on the recent drug delivery systems that target neuroinflammation and neuronal-glial cell communication and how they can be used as effective therapeutic applications for neurodegenerative diseases.
This Research Topic especially welcomes Original Research and Review articles that deal with current knowledge in therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. We welcome the following subtopics, but not limited to:
- Intercellular and/or intracellular communication mechanisms that are compromised in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or age-related macular degeneration (AMD);
- The usage of secretome and extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo as biomarkers and targets for modulation in central nervous system (CNS) diseases;
- Therapeutic strategies that target neuroinflammation and messengers involved in neuronal-glial communication, such as miRNAs;
- Preclinical and clinical studies based on the use of secretome and extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo as drug delivery systems to overcome neurodegeneration.
We also encourage colleagues working in emerging technologies for CNS repair to submit their research.
