Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Novel Therapeutic Strategies
1Neurobiology and developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
2Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
3Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
4Department of Pathology and Neuroscience, Toledo University, Toledo, OH, USA
5Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Novel Therapeutic Strategies
Description
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or motor neuron disease is a progressive, lethal, neurodegenerative disorder of motor neurons. The pathologic hallmark of this disease is the selective death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to paralysis of voluntary muscles. Studies on the disease-causing genes in cellular and animal models of ALS have led to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration. Putative mechanisms include protein misfolding and aggregation, proteasome impairment, neuroinflammation, reactive oxygen species, excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Transgenic mouse models of ALS and, more recently, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) provide an invaluable tool to test these putative mechanisms and novel therapeutics. Currently, there is only one approved treatment for ALS, and it is only modestly effective; therefore, there is a critical need for novel therapeutics to treat this devastating disease. We are interested in papers with relevance to the pathogenesis of ALS, with a particular focus on mechanisms related to genetic abnormalities in SOD1, TDP-43, FUS/LTS, and Valosin-containing protein (VCP/97). Papers addressing and critically evaluating recent preclinical and clinical trials in ALS would have priority. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Genetic discoveries in ALS
- Newly developed models for ALS (rodents, nonrodents)
- Mechanism of motor neuron degeneration
- Role of inflammation in ALS
- Contribution of glial cells to motor neuron death in ALS
- Autophagy and ALS
- Biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical evaluation in ALS
- iPS cells and ALS
- ALS and FTD: distinct diseases or coincidental overlap
- Experimental therapies in ALS
- Current and future clinical trials in ALS patients
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