Neuroregenerative Plasticity in Health and Disease

Dear Colleagues,

Obtaining insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning the regulations of neuroplasticity responsible for learning and memory has been a highly significant scientific objective for the past few decades. The continual differentiation of neural stem cells into new neurons through the production of neuroblasts in the cognitive centers of the fully matured brain has been established as the cellular basis for neuroregenerative plasticity of learning and memory throughout life. The neurogenic process in the hippocampus denotes pattern separation, mood and cognition, which affects one’s health condition. Hippocampal neurogenesis can be positively modulated by many factors including an enriched environment, physical exercise, electro-compulsive stimulation, and supplementation with growth factors, neurotropic factors, and antioxidant and anti-depressant drugs. Although impaired neurogenesis results from the defective proliferative differentiation potential of neural stem cells (NSCs), the reduced survival and integration of newly generated neurons in the brain have recently been linked to the onset and progression of dementia in many neurocognitive, neuroimmune and metabolic disorders. Notably, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), motor neuron diseases, neuroinflammation, stress, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, sleep disorders, metabolic disease, and an abnormal intake of food and antibiotics have been associated with aberrant neuroregenerative plasticity leading to emotional problems and dementia. Thus, therapeutic strategies that promote and sustain hippocampal neurogenesis have been considered to prevent aging and the disease-associated decline of memory.

Moreover, the occurrence of neurogenesis has been well established in the sub-ventricular zone (SVZ), hippocampus, rostral migratory stream (RMS)–olfactory bulb (OB) system, amygdala and hypothalamus of the brain in many adult organisms including humans. Upon cerebral stroke, the neural stem cells and neuroblasts in the SVZ appear to migrate to the infarct zone in the non-neurogenic areas such as the cortex and striatum, thereby indicating the spontaneous endogenous regenerative attempts of the brain. However, the fate determination of ectopically migrated neural stem cells and neuroblasts in the infarct zones needs to be further investigated for effective neural replacement therapy.

Over the past three decades, there has been enormous scientific progress made with regard to adult neurogenesis in experimental animals. However, the occurrence of neurogenesis in the adult human brain appears to be a longstanding scientific debate, while recent advancements in induced pluripotent stem cell technology provide advantages over the methodological disadvantages to assessing the neurogenic process. Recently, many infectious diseases including COVID-19 have also been identified to drastically alter the neurogenic process of the brain, leading to cognitive impairments. Therefore, the main goal of this Special Issue is to unveil the potential mechanisms underlying the regulation of neurogenesis in health and disease and decipher the potential signaling pathways and possible therapeutic targets to modulate the neurogenic process for the betterment of neurocognitive function in the elderly and subjects with disease conditions. Authors are welcome to submit original experimental research articles and review articles that cover the history, basic concepts, controversies, current research, clinical implications, technical advancements and roles of pro-neurogenic drugs, toxins and chemical detriments, as well as future perspectives related to the underlying biochemical, molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating adult neurogenesis and pharmacological and gene-editing strategies to treat dementia by mitigating aberrant hippocampal regenerative plasticity.

Submissions that use experimental evidence and potential mechanisms are encouraged, including topics such as: 1) aging, AD, PD, HD, ALS, ataxia, stroke, stress, anxiety and depression, as well as traumatic brain injury; 2) neuropsychiatric disorders including bipolar disease, schizophrenia and postpartum psychosis; 3) neuroimmune diseases; 4) abnormal circadian cycles, and endocrine, metabolic and malignant disorders; 5) gut homeostasis, dysbiosis and gastrointestinal disease; 6) infectious diseases including HIV, encephalitis, meningitis and COVID-19; 8) effects and impacts of physical exercise, enriched environments, nutraceuticals, probiotics, malnutrition antibiotics, and any other pharmacological agents in association with the regulation of adult neurogenesis and behavioral outcomes involving human tissues, live-imaging techniques, primary cultures, cell lines, induced pluripotent stem cells, animal models, and other relevant bioinformatics and mathematic methods.

Dr. Mahesh Kandasamy
Guest Editor

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• adult neurogenesis
• dysbiosis
• gut–brain axis
• drugs
• antioxidant
• neurodegenerative disorders
• dementia
• COVID-19
• behavior
• cognitive functions