Synaptic Dysregulation in Nervous System Disorders
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2025 | Viewed by 104
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Synapses are fundamental units of information transfer in the brain. Aberrant structure, function, molecular organization, and plasticity at these highly specialized junctions is well documented in a variety of neurological disorders. Studies from bipolar disease, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders suggest a neurodevelopmental origin of pathology at the synaptic level. In contrast, synaptic dysfunction is typically considered an endpoint in neurodegenerative diseases and a consequence of excessive neuronal death. Emerging evidence has highlighted a neurodevelopmental synaptic component in neurodegenerative disorders, emphasizing overlapping synaptopathic characteristics in all neurological diseases. The correlation of synapse dysfunction and disease pathology is well established, but an understanding of mechanistic causality and practical strategies to prevent or reverse synapse damage remains an unmet need.
This Special Issue aims to assemble original research and literature reviews that provide insight into mechanisms of synapse dysfunction in neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders. Topics include but are not limited to synapse assembly, formation and plasticity, neurotransmitter release, and advanced techniques for studying synapse biology in the context of neurological diseases. We hope that a systematic collection of newfound knowledge will aid in identifying current gaps in the field and contribute to the ongoing pursuit of developing synapto-protective strategies for preventing or slowing disease progression.
Dr. Pragya Goel
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- synapses
- synaptic transmission
- synaptic plasticity
- neurodegeneration
- neuropsychiatric disorders
- neurodevelopmental diseases
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