Injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) often lead to disastrous results and remain one of the leading causes of disabilities and deaths. CNS regeneration has been traditionally regarded as neuronal regeneration or axonal regeneration. Over the past two decades, studies have revealed unexpected roles of glial cells during the repairing process after CNS injury. These effects can be either beneficial or detrimental, depending on the sub-group and dynamic changes of glial responses to injuries. Glial cells have been reported with active participation in CNS regeneration, such as generating new neurons, forming new myelin, directly modulating progenitors, and remodeling vasculature. Considering the similarity of gene expression profile between glial cells and adult neural progenitors and the roles of glial cells during periphery nerve regeneration, the role of glial cells in CNS regeneration can be further explored.
The recent development of the state-of-the-art technologies, such as cell fate mapping, single cell sequencing and optogenetics, provides a great opportunity to investigate the regenerative responses of glial cells. This also serves as a foundation for developing novel glia-based therapies for the seemingly incurable CNS injuries.
This Research Topic welcomes original research papers, reviews, and commentaries discussing the role of glial cells in the repair process of CNS injuries. The sub-topics include but are not limited to:
1) Dedifferentiating changes, cell fate plasticity, and reprogramming of glial cells after CNS injuries;
2) Functions of glial cells in neural stem cell niche or glia/progenitor interaction under pathological conditions;
3) Inflammation-modulating effects of glial cells and underlying mechanisms;
4) Therapeutic interferences by targeting glial cells for CNS repair.
Manuscripts focusing on the heterogeneity of glial cells, particularly those based on single cell sequencing or investigating the cellular plasticity of glial cells will be given priority for consideration.
Injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) often lead to disastrous results and remain one of the leading causes of disabilities and deaths. CNS regeneration has been traditionally regarded as neuronal regeneration or axonal regeneration. Over the past two decades, studies have revealed unexpected roles of glial cells during the repairing process after CNS injury. These effects can be either beneficial or detrimental, depending on the sub-group and dynamic changes of glial responses to injuries. Glial cells have been reported with active participation in CNS regeneration, such as generating new neurons, forming new myelin, directly modulating progenitors, and remodeling vasculature. Considering the similarity of gene expression profile between glial cells and adult neural progenitors and the roles of glial cells during periphery nerve regeneration, the role of glial cells in CNS regeneration can be further explored.
The recent development of the state-of-the-art technologies, such as cell fate mapping, single cell sequencing and optogenetics, provides a great opportunity to investigate the regenerative responses of glial cells. This also serves as a foundation for developing novel glia-based therapies for the seemingly incurable CNS injuries.
This Research Topic welcomes original research papers, reviews, and commentaries discussing the role of glial cells in the repair process of CNS injuries. The sub-topics include but are not limited to:
1) Dedifferentiating changes, cell fate plasticity, and reprogramming of glial cells after CNS injuries;
2) Functions of glial cells in neural stem cell niche or glia/progenitor interaction under pathological conditions;
3) Inflammation-modulating effects of glial cells and underlying mechanisms;
4) Therapeutic interferences by targeting glial cells for CNS repair.
Manuscripts focusing on the heterogeneity of glial cells, particularly those based on single cell sequencing or investigating the cellular plasticity of glial cells will be given priority for consideration.
