Role of Extracellular Matrix Molecules in CNS Injury, Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 2469
Special Issue Editor
Interests: spinal cord injury; aging; Alzheimer’s disease; neurodegeneration; regeneration and plasticity; extracellular matrix; perineuronal nets; memory and learning
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In the central nervous system, the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role in almost every step of cellular interactions, from the regulation of diffusion parameters and neuronal excitability to inhibition/activation of synaptic plasticity and axonal growth. All ECM structures, including perisynaptic, perinodal matrix or perineuronal nets (PNNs), respond to neuronal and glial activity in processes of memory and learning. Specialized structures such as PNNs enwrap mostly parvalbumin positive inhibitory interneurons and serve as a neuroprotective barrier and a way to stabilize already established neuronal circuits. Within the processes of aging, after CNS injury or in the progress of neurodegenerative disease, alternation in composition and structure of the ECM niche is significant. This results in an environment which is inhibitory to axonal growth or shows disbalance in synaptic plasticity. Enzymatic digestion experimental therapies and individual/multiple components knockouts have been shown to increase plasticity and regenerative potential under these circumstances and, in cases of neurodegenerative disorders, to reduce memory and learning deficiencies. The role of individual components of ECM, their alteration or their surface modifications is of long-term interest.
Dr. Jiří Růžička
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- extracellular matrix
- perineuronal nets
- spinal cord injury
- traumatic brain injury
- neurodegeneration
- aging
