Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) represent a broad range of pathologies that can affect both upper and/or lower motor neurons (MNs) at the central level, and endplates and muscles at the periphery. They can be either acquired or inherited conditions, that dramatically influence the life quality of the patients and their caregivers. Some examples of neuromuscular diseases include muscular dystrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), myasthenia gravis, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Although innovative therapeutic strategies are recently emerging for some specific NMDs, there is still an urgent need to better clarify the disease pathogenesis and improve/develop specific therapies.
In this scenario, cellular and molecular alterations contributing to cell morphological changes, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, innervation defects, and other NMD-related deficits could represent new valuable targets.
Unraveling new cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for or correlated with the NMD onset and progression can be critical to clarify still unclear aspects of the pathogenesis of these diseases, with the final aim to define new therapeutic strategies for their treatment. Recent advances in cellular/molecular biology, microscopy/imaging, and bioinformatics are providing unprecedented opportunities to unravel the complex anatomical organization, interactions, and alterations concerning the different cell types in the CNS and PNS
This Research Topic aims to catalyze groundbreaking discoveries and improve the overview on novel cellular mechanisms altered or affected in the context of NMDs, to tackle these pressing questions in neuroscience.
To achieve this goal, researchers can employ advanced tools and techniques like, among others, stem cell therapies, optogenetics, cell reprogramming and single-cell sequencing to study cell mechanisms, functions, and interactions in the broad spectrum of NMDs.
This Research Topic seeks to explore the multiple roles and (dys)functions of neuronal and non-neuronal cells in NMDs, from the central circuits (e.g. cortical and spinal MNs) to the periphery, including muscle cells and neuromuscular junctions.
For this purpose, we particularly welcome the submission of Original and Review Articles focusing on, but not limited to:
• Novel insights into cell biology in NMDs
• The role and involvement of neuronal and non-neuronal cells in the pathogenesis and progression of NMDs
• Identification of new targets for therapy
• The impact of inflammatory responses on NMD onset and progression
• The role of muscle satellite cells in the regeneration process and muscle repair in NMDs
• Alterations at the NMJ level
• Identification of novel biomarkers in NMD diagnosis, prediction, and treatment
• Uncovering the role of ependymal cells in NMDs
• Possible alterations in cell morphology in NMDs
• The impact of positive/negative external factors (e.g. exercise, stress factors) on neuromuscular function and NMDs
• Novel tools to model NMD features and/or test possible therapies (e.g. nerve-muscle
Keywords:
neurons, glial cells, ependymal cells, neurodegeneration, NMJs, neuroinflammation, muscle
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) represent a broad range of pathologies that can affect both upper and/or lower motor neurons (MNs) at the central level, and endplates and muscles at the periphery. They can be either acquired or inherited conditions, that dramatically influence the life quality of the patients and their caregivers. Some examples of neuromuscular diseases include muscular dystrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), myasthenia gravis, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Although innovative therapeutic strategies are recently emerging for some specific NMDs, there is still an urgent need to better clarify the disease pathogenesis and improve/develop specific therapies.
In this scenario, cellular and molecular alterations contributing to cell morphological changes, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, innervation defects, and other NMD-related deficits could represent new valuable targets.
Unraveling new cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for or correlated with the NMD onset and progression can be critical to clarify still unclear aspects of the pathogenesis of these diseases, with the final aim to define new therapeutic strategies for their treatment. Recent advances in cellular/molecular biology, microscopy/imaging, and bioinformatics are providing unprecedented opportunities to unravel the complex anatomical organization, interactions, and alterations concerning the different cell types in the CNS and PNS
This Research Topic aims to catalyze groundbreaking discoveries and improve the overview on novel cellular mechanisms altered or affected in the context of NMDs, to tackle these pressing questions in neuroscience.
To achieve this goal, researchers can employ advanced tools and techniques like, among others, stem cell therapies, optogenetics, cell reprogramming and single-cell sequencing to study cell mechanisms, functions, and interactions in the broad spectrum of NMDs.
This Research Topic seeks to explore the multiple roles and (dys)functions of neuronal and non-neuronal cells in NMDs, from the central circuits (e.g. cortical and spinal MNs) to the periphery, including muscle cells and neuromuscular junctions.
For this purpose, we particularly welcome the submission of Original and Review Articles focusing on, but not limited to:
• Novel insights into cell biology in NMDs
• The role and involvement of neuronal and non-neuronal cells in the pathogenesis and progression of NMDs
• Identification of new targets for therapy
• The impact of inflammatory responses on NMD onset and progression
• The role of muscle satellite cells in the regeneration process and muscle repair in NMDs
• Alterations at the NMJ level
• Identification of novel biomarkers in NMD diagnosis, prediction, and treatment
• Uncovering the role of ependymal cells in NMDs
• Possible alterations in cell morphology in NMDs
• The impact of positive/negative external factors (e.g. exercise, stress factors) on neuromuscular function and NMDs
• Novel tools to model NMD features and/or test possible therapies (e.g. nerve-muscle
Keywords:
neurons, glial cells, ependymal cells, neurodegeneration, NMJs, neuroinflammation, muscle
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.