Neuroinflammation is associated with a wide spectrum of acute and chronic diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. It causes secondary damage, which is a major determinant for progression and outcome. Activated complement is suspected to be a key player to neuroinflammation. Complement is an important evolutionary ancient system for host anti-microbial aid. It serves the innate immunity and interfaces with the adaptive immunity. Complement recognizes non-cognate or altered-self antigens and devours 'unwanted' cells or cell compartments. Activation of complement leads to opsonisation of a target, inflammation by the release of anaphylatoxins, and damage of the target by the assembled membrane attack complex. Because complement can harm self-tissue, activation is tightly controlled by regulators. However, complement activation might be excessive and uncontrolled at sites of damage contributing to neuroinflammation leading to neurodegeneration.
Complement is an important pathway in neuroinflammation that promotes disease progression. Excessive activation can lead to a vicious cycle of complement activation and tissue damage. This might cause exacerbation of inflammation, the opposite of the often desired effect which is the resolution of inflammation. Preventing amplification of complement activation is believed to reduce neuronal damage. The challenges, however, are multiple, and are mostly associated with the need to efficiently inhibit the damage-causing complement functions without blocking the physiological complement-mediated immune vigilance. For this, it is crucial to understand the contribution of complement to the pathophysiology of nervous system injury or disease, and define the optimal point of intervention. Decisions also need to be taken about the route of administration of the therapeutic agent, the duration of the treatment and the use of additional prophylactic measures. The ultimate goal is to develop specifically tailored therapeutic approaches for treatment of neurological disease.
This Research Topic publishes rigorously open access peer-reviewed research that advances our understanding of the contribution of complement activation to the pathogenesis of nervous system disease. It welcomes studies on human material or animal models of nervous system pathology. It covers pathologies of the central and the peripheral nervous system, including degenerative, ischemic, traumatic, and inflammatory diseases. Attention is paid to all therapy related research as a key aim of this topic is to support the dissemination of new data in order to advance scientific drug discovery. This topic accepts manuscripts of the following types: Original Research, Review, Methods, Case Report, Mini Review, Perspective and Opinion.
Dr. Kees Fluiter and Prof. Frank Baas were the inventors of patents that describe the use of inhibitors of the terminal complement pathway for therapeutic purposes. Dr. Fluiter is co-founder of Regenesance BV and he was a paid as a consultant for Complement Pharma. Prof. Baas is shareholder of Complement Pharma. The other Topics Editors declare no conflicts of interest with regard to the Research Topic.
Neuroinflammation is associated with a wide spectrum of acute and chronic diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. It causes secondary damage, which is a major determinant for progression and outcome. Activated complement is suspected to be a key player to neuroinflammation. Complement is an important evolutionary ancient system for host anti-microbial aid. It serves the innate immunity and interfaces with the adaptive immunity. Complement recognizes non-cognate or altered-self antigens and devours 'unwanted' cells or cell compartments. Activation of complement leads to opsonisation of a target, inflammation by the release of anaphylatoxins, and damage of the target by the assembled membrane attack complex. Because complement can harm self-tissue, activation is tightly controlled by regulators. However, complement activation might be excessive and uncontrolled at sites of damage contributing to neuroinflammation leading to neurodegeneration.
Complement is an important pathway in neuroinflammation that promotes disease progression. Excessive activation can lead to a vicious cycle of complement activation and tissue damage. This might cause exacerbation of inflammation, the opposite of the often desired effect which is the resolution of inflammation. Preventing amplification of complement activation is believed to reduce neuronal damage. The challenges, however, are multiple, and are mostly associated with the need to efficiently inhibit the damage-causing complement functions without blocking the physiological complement-mediated immune vigilance. For this, it is crucial to understand the contribution of complement to the pathophysiology of nervous system injury or disease, and define the optimal point of intervention. Decisions also need to be taken about the route of administration of the therapeutic agent, the duration of the treatment and the use of additional prophylactic measures. The ultimate goal is to develop specifically tailored therapeutic approaches for treatment of neurological disease.
This Research Topic publishes rigorously open access peer-reviewed research that advances our understanding of the contribution of complement activation to the pathogenesis of nervous system disease. It welcomes studies on human material or animal models of nervous system pathology. It covers pathologies of the central and the peripheral nervous system, including degenerative, ischemic, traumatic, and inflammatory diseases. Attention is paid to all therapy related research as a key aim of this topic is to support the dissemination of new data in order to advance scientific drug discovery. This topic accepts manuscripts of the following types: Original Research, Review, Methods, Case Report, Mini Review, Perspective and Opinion.
Dr. Kees Fluiter and Prof. Frank Baas were the inventors of patents that describe the use of inhibitors of the terminal complement pathway for therapeutic purposes. Dr. Fluiter is co-founder of Regenesance BV and he was a paid as a consultant for Complement Pharma. Prof. Baas is shareholder of Complement Pharma. The other Topics Editors declare no conflicts of interest with regard to the Research Topic.