The Therapeutic Potential of Neurotrophin Signaling in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

Since the first description of neurotrophins in the 1950s, these factors have been recognized as key regulators of central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis and promising therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative disorders. Neurotrophins—including NGF, BDNF, and NT-3/4—modulate multiple processes throughout development and adulthood, including neuronal survival, axonal growth, synaptic plasticity, and myelination, primarily through Trk and p75NTR receptor signaling. Imbalanced neurotrophin levels and dysfunctional neurotrophin receptors have been implicated in several CNS diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. In this context, considerable efforts have been made to develop therapeutic strategies targeting neurotrophin signaling, including gene therapies and the modulation of neurotrophin receptor activity using synthetic small molecules.

This Special Issue aims to collect research articles and reviews that illuminate the mechanisms by which neurotrophin signaling contributes to neurodegenerative conditions, the challenges associated with targeting neurotrophin receptors, and the opportunities offered by gene therapies and other emerging therapeutic approaches. The collection will provide a comprehensive overview of current advances in the field and will be published as a Special Issue of the journal Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Konstantina Chanoumidou
Dr. Ioannis Charalampopoulos
Dr. Vasiliki Panagiotakopoulou
Guest Editors

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