Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, are characterized by progressive neuronal loss and dysfunction. Cell death plays a central role in the pathogenesis of these disorders, contributing to the progressive deterioration of brain function. Dysregulation of apoptotic signaling pathways, such as activation of caspases, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, contributes to neuronal loss. Impaired autophagy has also been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, leading to the accumulation of toxic aggregates and neuronal cell death. Several factors such as excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation are involved as well in triggering necrotic cell death, exacerbating neuronal damage.

Emerging evidence therefore suggests the involvement of various cell death types and intricate interactions and crosstalk between those pathways. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing therapeutic strategies that target multiple cell death mechanisms.

The goal of this Research Topic is to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of cell death in neurodegenerative disorders and their pathological consequences. By exploring the molecular and cellular events driving neuronal cell death, this collection aims to shed light on their implications for disease progression, identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention, and develop novel strategies to mitigate disease progression and alleviate neurodegenerative symptoms.

Areas to be covered in this collection may include but are not limited to:

1. Apoptosis and neurodegeneration including the activation of pro-apoptotic signaling pathways, dysfunctional apoptotic machinery, and the impact of apoptotic cascades on neuronal survival and cell fate determination.

2. Studies unraveling the intricate link between apoptosis and neuroinflammation

3. Research focusing on the dysregulation of autophagy, impaired clearance of aggregated proteins, and the role of autophagic cell death in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.

4. Necrotic signaling pathways, excitotoxicity, and the detrimental effects of necrosis on neuronal homeostasis and disease progression.

5. Novel therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating cell death pathways to combat neurodegenerative disorders and alleviate disease symptoms.

This Research Topic welcomes Original Research articles, Reviews, and Mini-reviews papers as well as Methods, and Hypothesis and Theory articles. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.

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Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

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