Progenitor Cell Secretome and Intercellular Communication in Motor Neuron Dysfunction and Disease: From Disease Mechanisms to Repair Strategies

Motor neuron diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are characterized by progressive motor neuron degeneration. Related conditions involving motor neuron dysfunction, such as spinal cord injury, provide complementary models for studying the mechanisms of neuronal loss and repair.Increasing evidence indicates that disease progression is not solely neuron-autonomous but is profoundly influenced by the surrounding cellular environment, particularly through paracrine signalling and secretome-mediated interactions.This Research Topic aims to explore how neural and glial progenitor cells modulate motor neuron survival, vulnerability, and repair through the release of bioactive factors including cytokines, growth factors, extracellular vesicles, and metabolites. Understanding these mechanisms may reveal convergent pathogenic and reparative pathways across motor neuron diseases and identify novel therapeutic strategies.Contributions are welcome on the characterization of extracellular vesicles and secreted factors influencing motor neuron homeostasis, neuron-glia crosstalk in health and disease, cellular and molecular mechanisms of progenitor cell-mediated paracrine signalling, the role of astrocyte and oligodendrocyte lineage cells in shaping disease-relevant secretomes, insights from iPSC-derived models, comparative studies across motor neuron diseases, translational approaches, including engineered cell systems and secretome-based therapies, and strategies bridging preclinical findings to early clinical applications. Topic editors: Daniele Bottai, Yong Li Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/87355/progenitor-cell-secretome-and-intercellular-communication-in-motor-neuron-dysfunction-and-disease-from-disease-mechanisms-to-repair-strategies