Contribution of Astrocytes and Microglia for the Development of Neurological Disorders
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: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 51
Special Issue Editor
Interests: aging; Alzheimer’s disease; amyloid beta; astrocytes; glial cells; microglia; neurodegenerative diseases; neuron; neuron–glia interaction; neuroinflammation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Astrocytes and microglia fulfill key homeostatic functions in the central nervous system (CNS). They are vital for neuronal function and survival, providing metabolic support and synaptic regulation, among many other functions. They also constitute the main immune system of the CNS and undergo dramatic morpho functional changes in response to diverse stimuli, with subsequent beneficial or detrimental effects. Neuroinflammation is a key pathophysiological finding in most diseases of the nervous system, being microglia and astrocytes its main regulator. The crosstalk between these cells and neurons, and their activation states, is overly complex and still unresolved, although glial cell dysfunction is implicated in the pathophysiology of multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, given that aging is the major risk factor for many chronic conditions, understanding their physiology, and early changes during aging, will provide information regarding the pathogenesis and progression of these diseases and for the development of effective therapies. In this special issue, we will focus on the contributions of microglia and astrocytes and their relationship in the genesis and progression of diseases affecting the nervous system, with emphasis on molecular research into the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying neurological disorders aiming to identify the genetic and biochemical pathways that contribute to disease progression and could be relevant for targeted therapies and improved diagnostic tools. Data on molecular mechanisms or pathophysiology are essential, and papers that only contain clinical trials/data will not be considered for the special issue.
Prof. Dr. Rommy Von Bernhardi
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- aging
- astrocytes
- glial cells
- microglia
- neurodegenerative diseases
- neuron-glia interaction
- neuroimmune response
- neuroinflammation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
