The Role of Botulinum and Other Clostridial Neurotoxins in Central Nervous System
A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Toxins".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2022) | Viewed by 10669
Special Issue Editors
Interests: synapses; trafficking; plasticity; motoneurons; physiology; hyperexcitability; visual system; electrical activity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. University of Leipzig, Department of Neurology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Interests: movement disorders; Parkinson’s disease; dystonia; botulinum neurotoxin; motor cortex plasticity; neurophysiology; neurosonography
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are clostridial neurotoxins and are among the most potent toxins known. Despite this, BoNTs, in particular BoNT type A, are an established therapy for a variety of clinical conditions, such as dystonia or spasticity, but also pain syndromes such as chronic migraines or neuropathic pain. BoNT has also gained importance in other non-neurological disorders such as in urology, dermatology, or surgery. BoNT is known to primarily act peripherally at the neuromuscular junction, resulting in a biochemical denervation of the treated muscle or at sensory pain neurons, preventing pain sensitization. However, there is more and more evidence from animal and human studies or experimental models that BoNT may not only act peripherally at the injection site but may also have central effects. The effects of BoNT on the central nervous system (CNS) may be due to direct central actions via retrograde axonal trafficking or the consequence of indirect mechanisms via changes to axonal afferents. However, the exact mechanisms are still not known. These BoNT-related central effects may not only be considered secondary or side effects, but may potentially contribute to the clinical, therapeutic effect of BoNT.
This Special Issue aims to describe and prove BoNTs-related effects on the CNS in different neurological and non-neurological conditions and their positive, therapeutic but also potentially negative clinical implications. Another aim is to elucidate the potential mechanisms involved in these central effects. Human studies based on clinical observations, neurophysiological investigations, or neuroimaging studies are welcome, as well as animal studies and experimental models. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are both encouraged.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Laura Restani
Dr. David Weise
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- botulinum neurotoxin
- clostridial neurotoxins
- central nervous system
- clinical application
- therapeutic implications
- human studies
- experimental models
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