About this Research Topic
Microglia, as active resident immune cells of the central nervous system, play an important role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and contribute to the development of brain injury and diseases. Our knowledge of microglial function in the context of many neurodegenerative diseases including stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS) has greatly expanded over the last decade. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that microglia are involved in all stages of neurodegenerative diseases and have a critical impact on disease progression. However, the role of microglia in pathological development has been controversial due to their highly dynamic and plastic nature. Further elucidation of how microglia behave and function in various neurodegenerative diseases is essential for developing therapeutic strategies and identifying precise therapeutic targets to improve neurological damage.
Although it is well established that microglia and neurodegenerative pathologies are closely related, microglia exhibit confusing behavior under different diseases. Recent scRNA-seq studies have identified many microglial transcriptional signatures in disease models such as AD, MS, ALS, and PD, making significant breakthroughs in understanding microglia function. However, many important questions remain to be addressed. Is there a common behavioral pattern of microglia in the development of different neurodegenerative diseases? Why do microglia play different roles in neurodegenerative diseases? How do signals from pathological environments affect microglial states? How to regulate microglial phenotype and function? In this Research Topic, we would like to present studies related to behaviors and roles of microglia in the development of neurodegenerative diseases and novel strategies to regulate microglia.
This Research Topic is looking forward to research focusing on microglial behavior and function, as well as communication with other cells in various neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we hope to receive studies that elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which microglia affect neural damage. The authors were encouraged to provide manuscripts in the form of Original Research, Methods, and Reviews of recent literature.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- The state and function of microglia, and underlying molecular mechanisms during the occurrence, development, and repair of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Interaction of microglia with other cells in the brain (native or infiltrating) in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Novel models and tools to study microglial plasticity in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Mechanisms of potential drugs regulating microglial function for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Although it is well established that microglia and neurodegenerative pathologies are closely related, microglia exhibit confusing behavior under different diseases. Recent scRNA-seq studies have identified many microglial transcriptional signatures in disease models such as AD, MS, ALS, and PD, making significant breakthroughs in understanding microglia function. However, many important questions remain to be addressed. Is there a common behavioral pattern of microglia in the development of different neurodegenerative diseases? Why do microglia play different roles in neurodegenerative diseases? How do signals from pathological environments affect microglial states? How to regulate microglial phenotype and function? In this Research Topic, we would like to present studies related to behaviors and roles of microglia in the development of neurodegenerative diseases and novel strategies to regulate microglia.
This Research Topic is looking forward to research focusing on microglial behavior and function, as well as communication with other cells in various neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we hope to receive studies that elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which microglia affect neural damage. The authors were encouraged to provide manuscripts in the form of Original Research, Methods, and Reviews of recent literature.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- The state and function of microglia, and underlying molecular mechanisms during the occurrence, development, and repair of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Interaction of microglia with other cells in the brain (native or infiltrating) in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Novel models and tools to study microglial plasticity in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Mechanisms of potential drugs regulating microglial function for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Keywords: Microglia, neurodegenerative diseases, cell interactions, neuroinflammation, microglial plasticity
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