New research is unraveling key roles for astrocytes in the pathogenesis of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. In Alzheimer’s disease, for example, astrocytes have been shown to phagocytize amyloid beta plaques thus protecting neurons as well as to secrete cytokines in the periplaque area leading to inflammation and neuronal death. In ischemic stroke, astrocytes confer neuroprotection through barrier formation and glutamate buffering. Astrocytes’ ability to clear glutamate is also relevant in major depressive disorder because when stress induces a high level of extracellular glutamate, this ability is compromised, and the resulting excitotoxicity can kill neurons. Findings like these mean astrocytes are major players in the pathogenesis of various central nervous system diseases, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of their (dys)function can be of therapeutic significance.
The emerging roles for astrocytes in diseases should not really come as surprise given the critical function these cells have in blood-brain barrier maintenance, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter homeostasis, metabolism, response to injuries, and a myriad of other processes in the central nervous system. Nevertheless, these cells were viewed as mere ‘glue’ cells of the central nervous system until recently. In this light, it is exciting to see new research transforming our understanding of brain function and disease.
There is growing evidence linking astrocytes to the pathobiology of various brain diseases. However, several key questions have remained only hazily answered. What are the molecular and cellular changes in astrocytes in each of these diseases? How do the genetic and environmental factors causing or modifying the risk of disease contribute to such changes? How do these astrocyte-specific molecular and cellular alterations impact disease pathogenesis?
To address these questions, future research should utilize faithful animal models of disease as well as genomics, proteomics, and molecular biology. However, it is important to consider astrocytes’ functional and regional heterogeneity in the brain and their relationship with the neurovasculature. Therefore, future endeavor should also employ single cell RNA-seq, intravital microscopy, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis.
With robust answers to these questions, we will also be able to determine shared versus unique functions of astrocytes in brain diseases. Ultimately, this information can help us develop new treatments for brain diseases.
Specifically, we encourage scientists to submit their manuscripts that explore neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases through the lens of astrocytes:
• Manuscripts may concern diseases including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia.
• We welcome original research, reviews (systematic or mini), brief reports, as well as methods articles.
• Approaches utilized can be molecular, cellular, computational, genetics, genomics, imaging, and/or behavioral.
There is growing evidence linking astrocytes to the pathobiology of various brain diseases. However, several key questions have remained only hazily answered. What are the molecular and cellular changes in astrocytes in each of these diseases? How do the genetic and environmental factors causing or modifying the risk of disease contribute to such changes? How do these astrocyte-specific molecular and cellular alterations impact disease pathogenesis?
To address these questions, future research should utilize faithful animal models of disease as well as genomics, proteomics, and molecular biology. However, it is important to consider astrocytes’ functional and regional heterogeneity in the brain and their relationship with the neurovasculature. Therefore, future endeavor should also employ single cell RNA-seq, intravital microscopy, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis.
With robust answers to these questions, we will also be able to determine shared versus unique functions of astrocytes in brain diseases. Ultimately, this information can help us develop new treatments for brain diseases.
This solicitation is for manuscripts that rigorously explore astrocyte biology in the context of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Manuscripts using various approaches, such as cellular, molecular, genetic, genomic, behavioral, computational, and system, are welcome. We encourage all types of contributions, including original articles, brief reports, mini-reviews, systematic reviews, and methods. We assure authors that manuscripts will undergo a fair and thorough peer review process. Our aim is to provide a swift publication of accepted contributions. Thank you for considering our solicitation.
New research is unraveling key roles for astrocytes in the pathogenesis of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. In Alzheimer’s disease, for example, astrocytes have been shown to phagocytize amyloid beta plaques thus protecting neurons as well as to secrete cytokines in the periplaque area leading to inflammation and neuronal death. In ischemic stroke, astrocytes confer neuroprotection through barrier formation and glutamate buffering. Astrocytes’ ability to clear glutamate is also relevant in major depressive disorder because when stress induces a high level of extracellular glutamate, this ability is compromised, and the resulting excitotoxicity can kill neurons. Findings like these mean astrocytes are major players in the pathogenesis of various central nervous system diseases, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of their (dys)function can be of therapeutic significance.
The emerging roles for astrocytes in diseases should not really come as surprise given the critical function these cells have in blood-brain barrier maintenance, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter homeostasis, metabolism, response to injuries, and a myriad of other processes in the central nervous system. Nevertheless, these cells were viewed as mere ‘glue’ cells of the central nervous system until recently. In this light, it is exciting to see new research transforming our understanding of brain function and disease.
There is growing evidence linking astrocytes to the pathobiology of various brain diseases. However, several key questions have remained only hazily answered. What are the molecular and cellular changes in astrocytes in each of these diseases? How do the genetic and environmental factors causing or modifying the risk of disease contribute to such changes? How do these astrocyte-specific molecular and cellular alterations impact disease pathogenesis?
To address these questions, future research should utilize faithful animal models of disease as well as genomics, proteomics, and molecular biology. However, it is important to consider astrocytes’ functional and regional heterogeneity in the brain and their relationship with the neurovasculature. Therefore, future endeavor should also employ single cell RNA-seq, intravital microscopy, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis.
With robust answers to these questions, we will also be able to determine shared versus unique functions of astrocytes in brain diseases. Ultimately, this information can help us develop new treatments for brain diseases.
Specifically, we encourage scientists to submit their manuscripts that explore neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases through the lens of astrocytes:
• Manuscripts may concern diseases including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia.
• We welcome original research, reviews (systematic or mini), brief reports, as well as methods articles.
• Approaches utilized can be molecular, cellular, computational, genetics, genomics, imaging, and/or behavioral.
There is growing evidence linking astrocytes to the pathobiology of various brain diseases. However, several key questions have remained only hazily answered. What are the molecular and cellular changes in astrocytes in each of these diseases? How do the genetic and environmental factors causing or modifying the risk of disease contribute to such changes? How do these astrocyte-specific molecular and cellular alterations impact disease pathogenesis?
To address these questions, future research should utilize faithful animal models of disease as well as genomics, proteomics, and molecular biology. However, it is important to consider astrocytes’ functional and regional heterogeneity in the brain and their relationship with the neurovasculature. Therefore, future endeavor should also employ single cell RNA-seq, intravital microscopy, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis.
With robust answers to these questions, we will also be able to determine shared versus unique functions of astrocytes in brain diseases. Ultimately, this information can help us develop new treatments for brain diseases.
This solicitation is for manuscripts that rigorously explore astrocyte biology in the context of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Manuscripts using various approaches, such as cellular, molecular, genetic, genomic, behavioral, computational, and system, are welcome. We encourage all types of contributions, including original articles, brief reports, mini-reviews, systematic reviews, and methods. We assure authors that manuscripts will undergo a fair and thorough peer review process. Our aim is to provide a swift publication of accepted contributions. Thank you for considering our solicitation.
