Cell and Molecular Mechanisms of Cytogenesis

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2026 | Viewed by 9191

Editors


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Guest Editor
Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
Interests: neurogenesis; gliogenesis; epigenetics; transcription factors; depression; neural circuits
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
Interests: astrogliogenesis; adult-born astrocytes; neuroplasticity; depression; sex differences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Cytogenesis, the process by which new cells are generated, is essential for neural tissue development, maintenance, and repair. This mechanism remains active not only during embryonic development but also throughout postnatal life and adulthood, where cellular turnover and regeneration support homeostasis and enable responses to injury or disease.

In the central nervous system (CNS), cell genesis encompasses not only canonical mechanisms such as the differentiation of neural stem cells but also alternative routes, including local proliferation of mature cells and, in specific contexts, cellular reprogramming or dedifferentiation, contributing to functional and structural remodeling.

While neurogenesis, the generation of new neurons, has traditionally received the most attention, recent findings highlight the dynamic and functionally significant contributions of gliogenesis, including the formation of new astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, in both sustaining brain homeostasis and the response to pathological challenges. These processes influence synaptic remodeling, neurotransmission, and behavior, demonstrating their impact far beyond structural support.

Cytogenesis is orchestrated by a dynamic interplay between intrinsic genetic programs and extrinsic environmental cues that regulate cell fate specification, proliferation, differentiation, and maturation. Advances in molecular biology, high-resolution imaging, and single-cell omics have provided unprecedented insights into the transcriptional, epigenetic, and signaling pathways regulating these processes. Moreover, the growing understanding of cell-type-specific cytogenesis has opened new avenues for regenerative medicine and for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

This Special Issue of Cells invites original research and comprehensive reviews focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of CNS cell genesis in both physiological and pathological contexts. We welcome contributions exploring fundamental biological processes, innovative methodologies, and translational applications, including studies on signaling pathways, transcriptional regulators, cell–cell interactions, extracellular factors, and strategies to modulate cytogenic mechanisms for therapeutic purposes.

By consolidating diverse perspectives and recent advances, this Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of CNS cytogenesis and its contribution to brain function while supporting the design of future therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Luisa Alexandra Meireles Pinto
Dr. Teresa Correia Soares Canedo Calado
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • cytogenesis
  • central nervous system
  • neurogenesis
  • gliogenesis
  • neuroplasticity
  • signaling pathways
  • cell proliferation
  • differentiation
  • CNS homeostasis
  • neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

21 pages, 1060 KB  
Review
Sex Differences in Depression: Adult Cytogenesis as Potential Target for Precision Psychiatry
by Leandro Rodrigues-Freitas, Luísa Pinto and Teresa Canedo
Cells 2026, 15(12), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15121059 - 10 Jun 2026
Viewed by 8117
Abstract
Sex differences are increasingly recognized as key determinants of vulnerability, clinical presentation, and treatment response in depression. Rather than arising from a single mechanism, these differences emerge from the interplay of multiple biological and non-biological factors. Converging evidence points to the hippocampus as [...] Read more.
Sex differences are increasingly recognized as key determinants of vulnerability, clinical presentation, and treatment response in depression. Rather than arising from a single mechanism, these differences emerge from the interplay of multiple biological and non-biological factors. Converging evidence points to the hippocampus as a central region where these processes intersect, with adult neurogenesis and astrogliogenesis representing a potential mechanistic link between sex-specific biological factors and behavioral outcomes in depression. In this review, we integrate findings from human studies and preclinical models to examine how sex impacts depression while considering the multiple origins of sexual differentiation in the central nervous system. We discuss the importance of studying sex as a biological variable and acknowledge current limitations in the field. Finally, we highlight how cytogenic processes in the adult hippocampus are modulated in a sex-dependent manner, how their disruption may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression, and their potential role in precision psychiatry. Adult cytogenesis provides a promising target for developing therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting the integration of these cells in neural circuits, which may counterbalance the cellular impairments observed in stress-induced depression, representing a therapeutic avenue for this disorder. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell and Molecular Mechanisms of Cytogenesis)
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