Glial Cells in Chronic Neuroinflammation: Cause, Consequence, and Therapeutic Targets in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Neuroinflammation, characterized by the activity of glial cells and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, is a common pathological feature observed across a spectrum of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and autism spectrum disorder. While often considered a protective brain mechanism, the chronic activation of glial cells, encompassing not only microglia but also astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, plays a pivotal and complex role in disease progression.A central unresolved challenge in the field lies in distinguishing whether neuroinflammation acts as a primary causative factor or a secondary consequence of disease pathology. This critical distinction has profound implications for understanding disease mechanisms and, crucially, for the development of effective therapeutic interventions. Growing evidence highlights the immense potential of targeting glial cell dysfunction as a strategy for treating numerous neurological and psychiatric conditions. Therefore, robust discussion and novel research exploring this "cause or consequence" dichotomy are essential for advancing treatment paradigms.This Research Topic aims to provide a forum for the discussion of chronic inflammatory processes in neurological and psychiatric disorders from a glial cell perspective. We invite cutting-edge original research, comprehensive reviews, and challenging perspectives that shed light on the multifaceted roles of glial cells in the initiation, perpetuation, and resolution of neuroinflammation.We encourage submissions discussing a range of neurological disorders, with a specific interest in behavioral, cognitive, and psychiatric conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. We are especially keen to receive research exploring novel glial cell based treatment strategies and therapeutic approaches. Both basic and clinical research, employing diverse methodologies from molecular and cellular biology to imaging and patient studies, will be considered.This Research Topic seeks to foster interdisciplinary discussions that will advance our understanding of glial cell pathology and unlock new avenues for therapeutic development in brain disorders impacted by neuroinflammation. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:• Mechanisms of glial cell activation and dysfunction in chronic neuroinflammation.• The role of specific glial cell types (microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes) in neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders.• Disentangling glial neuroinflammation as a cause or consequence of neurological and psychiatric pathology.• Novel glial cell targeted therapeutic strategies for disorders like autism, depression, and Alzheimer's disease.• Impact of genetic factors on glial cell mediated neuroinflammatory responses.• Biomarkers of glial cell dysfunction and neuroinflammation in clinical settings. Topic editors: Takae Hirasawa, Youichi Shinozaki, Matthew McMillin, Kumi Nagamoto-Combs Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77662/glial-cells-in-chronic-neuroinflammation-cause-consequence-and-therapeutic-targets-in-neurological-and-psychiatric-disorders