The Role of Glia in Neuropsychiatric 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: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 3011
Special Issue Editor
Interests: antidepressants; serotonin system; neuroplasticity; hippocampus; brain stimulation; spinogenesis
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Data are increasingly indicating that glial cells not only act as structural or logistical support within the CNS but also actively participate in processes of neurotransmission and neural plasticity. It is now widely accepted that astrocytes, microglial cells and oligodendrocytes are involved in virtually all brain activities, ranging from the regulation of central homeostasis to memory or the elaboration of superior functions. Not surprisingly, therefore, a growing body of evidence highlights the potential of glial cells as alternative targets in the search for new treatments of neuropsychiatric disorders. For instance, numerous studies have already highlighted the importance of neuro-inflammation in the emergence of depression or depression-like behaviors, and not surprisingly, microglial cells were found to have major implications. Specifically targeting the molecular actors involved in the process has recently been proposed as a potential antidepressant strategy. Similarly, there is now a consensus that some psychoses are due to phenomena of neuroinflammation occurring in discrete neuronal populations, with at least one form of autoimmune psychosis that has been identified and that can be treated by immunotherapy. Further, numerous neuropsychiatric diseases now appear to be related to dysfunction in processes of synaptic plasticity, which may display aberrant patterns in psychosis or be reduced in number/efficacy in depression and cognitive disorders. Thus, recent developments suggest that a promising way to achieve rapid antidepressant efficiency would consist of an increase in synaptic plasticity within some limbic and associative brain areas, such as the prefrontal cortex or the hippocampus. Taking into account the fundamental importance of astrocytes in the tripartite synapse, it is likely that strategies aimed at the molecular mechanisms by which they modulate synaptic plasticity can be of relevance in the search for new treatments in the field of neuropsychiatry. Finally, besides their well-known role in the genesis and maintenance of myelin, oligodendrocytes have more recently been shown to be enrolled in some neuro-inflammatory conditions, which might also reveal new psychotropics of interest.
This Special Issue will welcome both research papers and reviews addressing these points, with a particular interest in molecular mechanisms.
Dr. Guillaume Lucas
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- glial cells
- astrocytes
- microglia
- neuro-inflammation
- synaptic plasticity
- neuropsychiatric disorders
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