Role of Glia in Human Health and Disease—2nd Edition
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: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1642
Editor
Interests: neuropharmacology; neurodegeneration; neuroinflammation; glia; microbiota; neurodegenerative diseases; hippocampus; behaviour
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The majority of brain cells are glia, and yet, over a century after their discovery, their real functions have still not been fully unraveled. Currently, our understanding of the role of glia in central nervous system (CNS) physiology and in neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and demyelinating pathology is rapidly progressing. Glia, with their multiple functions, maintain the homeostasis of the CNS. Astrocytes are the most numerous and ubiquitous glial cells in the CNS and have many housekeeping functions; they bind the gray matter and enwrap synapses, maintain ion and neurotransmitter homeostasis, and regulate synaptogenesis. Microglia, the primary immune cells of the central nervous system, dynamically and continuously survey brain parenchyma to detect and eliminate debris from damaged neurons via phagocytosis and participate in shaping synaptic connectivity in the developing brain. Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells myelinate axons, shaping the connectome.
Glia are vital, as their interactions with neurons determine the operation of the brain in health and disease states. These interactions form the basis of networks that show morphological and functional reciprocal reliance and dependency.
Alterations affecting one cell population reverberate and affect the others, favoring or dysregulating their activities. Glial cell phenomic dysfunction, whether in the form of atrophy with loss of function or reactivity, is associated with brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and glioblastoma, as well as autism and psychiatric disorders. Understanding the roles of glia will allow us to assess how their interactions can influence the state and progression of diseases and will be critical in identifying therapeutic strategies.
This Special Issue will comprise an in-depth analysis of how different types of glia participate in the physiological and pathological mechanisms behind CNS function and contribute to the onset or progression of brain diseases. In this regard, investigators are invited to contribute original research articles and reviews to improve our understanding of the role of glia in health and disease.
Dr. Daniele Lana
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- astrocytes
- microglia
- oligodendrocytes
- Schwann cells
- neurodegeneration
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