About this Research Topic
Metabolic diseases linked to brain disorders are complex debilitating conditions with a profound impact on quality of life for millions of people worldwide. Maintaining glucose homeostasis is fundamental to ensure the physiological functions of our organism. Intense debates have been undertaken over the last decades to discriminate what is the body´s glycostate and how is fine-tune regulated. To some extent, there is a consensus whereby the tight control of blood glucose levels is accomplished by a highly sophisticated interplay between hormones, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters released by a number of metabolic organs, of which brain, peripheral nerves and pancreatic islet micro-organs are the most fundamental co-actors.
However, the intricate communication circuitries between brain and pancreatic islets makes difficult to understand how these organs are able to control glucose homeostasis. Hence, there is a need for novel studies providing new insights for future clinical interventions aimed to preserve neurometabolic health.
This article collection aims to cover and review the current advances in the field of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2), in association with brain and/or autonomic nerves derangements. One main goal is to highlight the current progresses on identifying specific targets controlling the release of hormones, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters for the regulation of the demands for pancreatic β- cells to secrete insulin at certain glycemic set-point. In addition, novel investigations on how and when the different cells within the pancreatic islets, as well as certain neurons and other cell types within the brain, are able to develop insulin resistance are considered of relevance to clinically improve the management of brain disorders associated to metabolic derangements. Finally, by providing new therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing or reversing neurometabolic insults may possibly lead to new means for protecting against these complex pathophysiological conditions.
This Research Topics welcomes submissions of (original research articles, brief research report, review, minireview, or commentary) focused, but not limited, to the following subtopics:
- In vivo studies on pancreatic islet biology in health and in the context of genetically- or diet-induced
metabolic derangements are considered for publication as research articles.
- State of the art techniques in confocal imaging using in vivo or ex vivo systems to explore the integrity of the pancreatic nervous system in animal models and/or human with obesity and diabetes mellitus are
encouraged for publication either as research or methodological articles.
- Contributions linking the functional cross-talk between brain and pancreatic islets in metabolic health and disease are highly encouraged to improve the clinical management of neurometabolic diseases.
- Studies focus on new targets or therapeutic strategies aimed to prevent or curtail brain derangements associated to metabolic insults, such as insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic
reticulum stress etc., are of interest.
- Contributions on obesity and diabetes-related complications (e.g., cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy and fatty liver disease), focusing on mechanisms, biomarkers, diagnostics and/or treatments are highly encouraged.
- Reviews, commentaries and short communications in the field of neurodegenerative diseases associated to metabolic disorders are also considered.
However, the intricate communication circuitries between brain and pancreatic islets makes difficult to understand how these organs are able to control glucose homeostasis. Hence, there is a need for novel studies providing new insights for future clinical interventions aimed to preserve neurometabolic health.
This article collection aims to cover and review the current advances in the field of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2), in association with brain and/or autonomic nerves derangements. One main goal is to highlight the current progresses on identifying specific targets controlling the release of hormones, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters for the regulation of the demands for pancreatic β- cells to secrete insulin at certain glycemic set-point. In addition, novel investigations on how and when the different cells within the pancreatic islets, as well as certain neurons and other cell types within the brain, are able to develop insulin resistance are considered of relevance to clinically improve the management of brain disorders associated to metabolic derangements. Finally, by providing new therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing or reversing neurometabolic insults may possibly lead to new means for protecting against these complex pathophysiological conditions.
This Research Topics welcomes submissions of (original research articles, brief research report, review, minireview, or commentary) focused, but not limited, to the following subtopics:
- In vivo studies on pancreatic islet biology in health and in the context of genetically- or diet-induced
metabolic derangements are considered for publication as research articles.
- State of the art techniques in confocal imaging using in vivo or ex vivo systems to explore the integrity of the pancreatic nervous system in animal models and/or human with obesity and diabetes mellitus are
encouraged for publication either as research or methodological articles.
- Contributions linking the functional cross-talk between brain and pancreatic islets in metabolic health and disease are highly encouraged to improve the clinical management of neurometabolic diseases.
- Studies focus on new targets or therapeutic strategies aimed to prevent or curtail brain derangements associated to metabolic insults, such as insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic
reticulum stress etc., are of interest.
- Contributions on obesity and diabetes-related complications (e.g., cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy and fatty liver disease), focusing on mechanisms, biomarkers, diagnostics and/or treatments are highly encouraged.
- Reviews, commentaries and short communications in the field of neurodegenerative diseases associated to metabolic disorders are also considered.
Keywords: metabolic diseases, brain disorders, glucose homeostasis
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