Targeting Neuron-Non-Neuronal Interactions at the Neurovascular Unit in Stroke and Neurodegenerative Disease Models

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Background

Stroke and neurodegenerative Diseases remain one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Unfortunately, no available treatment satisfactory addresses post-stroke and neurodegenerative diseases nervous system recovery. Therefore, there is a critical need to elucidate the newer mechanistic studies and treatment strategies underlying brain injury, repair, and recovery after stroke and neurodegenerative diseases—a global health problem with significant social and economic implications.
In recent decades, numerous studies have been devoted to demonstrating that neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies alleviate brain damage after stroke and neurodegenerative diseases by promoting structural and functional recovery. A majority of agents targeted a single event in the injury cascade and targeted a single neural cell. However, experimental approaches to treat stroke and neurodegenerative diseases that are solely vasculocentric or neurocentric have failed to produce effective therapies. Non-neuronal cells including glial cells (astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocyte), infiltrating and resident immune cells, vascular system (endothelial cells, and pericytes) affect neuronal recovery also have complex specific signals and the cascades they perform that require special attention.
The concept of neurovascular unit (NVU) as a more comprehensive target for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases treatment has emerged. The NVU has become a major drug target for cerebrovascular diseases treatment due to its emphasis on multicellular and cell-to-cell interactions. NVU is a complex, integrated functional unit composed of neurons, astrocytes, microglia, as well as cells in the blood vessels themselves including endothelial cells, pericytes, smooth muscle cells, and a brain-specific extracellular matrix. Each cell type in the NVU plays an essential role, either in transmitting and processing neural signals or in maintaining the appropriate microenvironmental conditions for healthy neural function. The occurrence of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases can destroy NVU at both the structural and functional levels. However, little is known about how those cells interact during the healing process and what mechanisms triggered by those interaction might be beneficial or detrimental to neuroprotection and regeneration of the nervous system. Thus, it is strongly warranted that stroke and neurodegenerative diseases be approached with the newer mechanistic studies and multiple, multifaceted neuroprotective and neurorestorative methods.
Based on the above background and needs, this research topic will show progress in terms of treatment and innovative mechanism of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases based on the interaction of neurons and non-neuronal cells (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocyte, pericytes, endothelial cells, monocyte/macrophages, T cells, NK cells, etc.). We are looking for Original Research Article, Brief Research Report, Review (mini or full-length), or Perspective articles focusing on, but not limited to the following topics:
(1) Relation between neurons and non-neuronal cells at the NVU
(2) Underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of NVU
(3) Treatments for neurons and non-neuronal cells damage after stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, including chemical drugs, natural products, and Chinese herbal medicine
(4) Develop innovative co-cultivate models in vitro to understand the pathology of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases

Keywords: Stroke, Neurodegenerative Disease, Neurological Function Recovery, Neuron-Non-Neuronal Cells Interactions, Neurovascular Unit, Treatment, Mechanisms

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