Special Issue

The Role of Lipoprotein Receptors in Brain Development and Neurodegeneration

Submission Deadline: 31 Oct 2026

Guest Editor

  • Portrait of Guest Editor Uwe  Beffert

    Uwe Beffert PhD

    Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Interests: Alzheimer’s disease; apolipoproteins; lipoprotein receptors; brain development; neuronal migration; autism; cytoskeleton

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lipoprotein receptors are key regulators of neuronal development, synaptic function, and brain homeostasis. Members of the LDL receptor family, including ApoER2, VLDLR, and LDLR, mediate essential signaling pathways that guide neuronal migration, dendritic growth, and synaptic plasticity. These receptors also serve as binding partners for critical ligands such as Reelin and apolipoprotein E (apoE), linking them to processes that underlie learning, memory, and cognitive resilience. Beyond development, alterations in receptor expression, splicing, and signaling contribute to pathological mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders.

In recent years, advances in structural biology, genetics, and systems neuroscience have greatly expanded our understanding of how lipoprotein receptors integrate extracellular signals to regulate intracellular pathways across the lifespan. This special issue seeks to highlight novel insights into receptor biology, including molecular mechanisms, animal models, and translational perspectives on human disease. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives addressing lipoprotein receptor function in brain development, synaptic physiology, and neurodegeneration, as well as their potential as therapeutic targets.

Dr. Uwe Beffert
Guest Editor

Keywords

  • lipoprotein receptors
  • ApoER2
  • VLDLR
  • LDLR
  • Reelin
  • apolipoprotein E
  • synaptic plasticity
  • neuronal migration
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • neurodegeneration

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