Glial Cells in Health and Disease: Impacts on Neural Circuits and Plasticity

It is increasingly recognized that glial cells (including astrocytes, microglial cells, and oligodendrocytes) play a critical role in brain development and function. Under healthy conditions, these cells provide support and protection to neurons, maintain homeostasis, clear debris, and form myelin. Essentially, they take care of the neurons and the environment in which they reside. Recently, it has been found that dysfunction of glial cells contributes to various neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, under pathological conditions, they become activated and trigger an insidious neuroinflammatory response, deterioration of metabolism, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, and impaired energy supply, ultimately promoting neuronal death.



A detailed understanding of the function of glial cells under healthy conditions, as well as their dysfunction under pathological conditions, has the potential to revolutionize our thinking about nervous system function and dysfunction and to inspire the development of new therapies to treat these devastating disorders. This highlights the importance of further investigating the role of glial cells under healthy and pathological conditions. Through extensive research in this area, detailed answers to the following questions may open new avenues to a better understanding of brain function and dysfunction. What are the roles of microglia and astrocytes in synapse formation and plasticity? Do astrocytes and microglia actively control neuronal circuit function in the adult CNS, focusing on glial calcium waves, gliotransmission, and neuronal circuit function. What is the role of astrocytes in blood-brain barrier integrity under healthy and diseased conditions? How do oligodendrocytes myelinate? To what extent might glial cells be important drug targets?



This Research Topic invites original articles describing new experimental models and tools for studying glial function, as well as articles that expand our understanding of its role in healthy and pathological conditions. In addition, review articles detailing the role of glial cells in various aspects of health and disease are welcome.

Topic Editor Dr. David Cedeno is the co-owner of SGX Medical LLC. He is a consultant for Capri Medical (Dublin, Ireland) and co-inventor of patents related to electrical neuromodulation for pain. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.