Nerve injury is a worldwide clinical issue causing a high rate of disability with a strong economic and social impact. The great interest around the phenomenon stimulates the research and development of new methodologies to promote axon growth after injury. In general, in axon growth the role of chemical signaling has always been recognized. In particular, the growth cone, by perceiving signal molecules from the surrounding environment, guides the axon towards its specific target triggering a cascade of signals that starts from the membrane receptors and which determines deep ultrastructural changes. However, recently, mechanical signaling is gaining increasing interest in the scientific community due to its ability to modulate the main steps of growth and differentiation. Since the first decades of the last century it had been postulated that the tension exerted by the increase in body mass promotes axonal elongation laying the foundations for several studies that highlighted the role of force in other key mechanisms (e.g. initiation, guidance, branching, retraction, synaptogenesis).
However, a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms activated by tension is still lacking, as well as an efficient method to promote axonal elongation following injury in a living organism. Among the underlying reasons is the need to find new methods to investigate these phenomena in-depth, as well as the lack of technologies useful for stimulating axons in an accurate, precise and non-invasive way. In this sense, discovering the signaling cascade (e.g. mechanoreceptors, force sensors, cytoskeleton, transcriptional modulation, production of key proteins) and proposing applicable methods (e.g. nanotechnologies, automated-motorized systems, implantable scaffolds) in human medical practice are key objectives.
The aim of this research topic is to promote the understanding of the mechanisms activated by mechanical forces at the axonal level and the research and development of new methodologies potentially exploitable for clinical therapies following nerve injury. The scope and areas of interest of this research topic include, but are not limited, to:
- how chemical and mechanical signaling establish a cross-talk that leads to growth;
- how force causes intracellular alterations (e.g. mechano-receptors, force sensors, cytoskeleton, vesicular trafficking, calcium signaling, synaptogenesis);
- to uncover molecular mechanisms and signal cascades activated by mechanical forces;
- to develop new methodologies to modulate axonal growth in one of its key steps;
- to develop new methodologies to promote recovery following nerve injury.
We strongly encourage authors to submit original researches, perspectives and in-depth review articles.
Nerve injury is a worldwide clinical issue causing a high rate of disability with a strong economic and social impact. The great interest around the phenomenon stimulates the research and development of new methodologies to promote axon growth after injury. In general, in axon growth the role of chemical signaling has always been recognized. In particular, the growth cone, by perceiving signal molecules from the surrounding environment, guides the axon towards its specific target triggering a cascade of signals that starts from the membrane receptors and which determines deep ultrastructural changes. However, recently, mechanical signaling is gaining increasing interest in the scientific community due to its ability to modulate the main steps of growth and differentiation. Since the first decades of the last century it had been postulated that the tension exerted by the increase in body mass promotes axonal elongation laying the foundations for several studies that highlighted the role of force in other key mechanisms (e.g. initiation, guidance, branching, retraction, synaptogenesis).
However, a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms activated by tension is still lacking, as well as an efficient method to promote axonal elongation following injury in a living organism. Among the underlying reasons is the need to find new methods to investigate these phenomena in-depth, as well as the lack of technologies useful for stimulating axons in an accurate, precise and non-invasive way. In this sense, discovering the signaling cascade (e.g. mechanoreceptors, force sensors, cytoskeleton, transcriptional modulation, production of key proteins) and proposing applicable methods (e.g. nanotechnologies, automated-motorized systems, implantable scaffolds) in human medical practice are key objectives.
The aim of this research topic is to promote the understanding of the mechanisms activated by mechanical forces at the axonal level and the research and development of new methodologies potentially exploitable for clinical therapies following nerve injury. The scope and areas of interest of this research topic include, but are not limited, to:
- how chemical and mechanical signaling establish a cross-talk that leads to growth;
- how force causes intracellular alterations (e.g. mechano-receptors, force sensors, cytoskeleton, vesicular trafficking, calcium signaling, synaptogenesis);
- to uncover molecular mechanisms and signal cascades activated by mechanical forces;
- to develop new methodologies to modulate axonal growth in one of its key steps;
- to develop new methodologies to promote recovery following nerve injury.
We strongly encourage authors to submit original researches, perspectives and in-depth review articles.