The Language of Neural Cells: Decoding Molecular Signaling in Neurodevelopmental and Neuro-Oncological Disorders

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cells of the Nervous System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: cell biology; cellular death; eryptosis; molecular signaling pathways; oxidative stress

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Guest Editor
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: cell biology; biochemical pathways; rare tumors; molecular signaling pathways; nanomedicine

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: cell biology; neurodegenerative pathways; molecular signaling pathways
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cells communicate through a sophisticated molecular language comprising signaling pathways that regulate vital processes such as growth, differentiation, disease progression and death. In the nervous system, this molecular dialogue is particularly intricate and tightly regulated, as it orchestrates brain development, synaptic plasticity, and the response to injury. In neurodevelopmental and neuro-oncological disorders, however, this language is often distorted. Mutations, epigenetic modifications, and the aberrant expression of signaling components can alter cellular communication, leading to disrupted development, uncontrolled proliferation, or neurodegeneration.

This Special Issue, "The Language of Neural Cells: Decoding Molecular Signaling in Neurodevelopmental and Neuro-Oncological Disorders", aims to explore the dysregulation of signaling pathways specifically in the context of complex disorders of the nervous system, including rare ones.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that reveal the molecular mechanisms that contribute to resistance, and how targeted interventions can repair the altered cellular communication for better therapeutic outcomes. Topics may include, but are not limited to, receptor-mediated signaling in neural cells, transcriptional dysregulation in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, molecular mechanisms of resistance in CNS tumors, apoptosis induction, epigenetic regulation, and the therapeutic modulation of signaling networks.

Dr. Marilena Briglia
Dr. Alice Foti
Dr. Adriana C. E. Graziano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neural cells
  • molecular signaling
  • neurodevelopmental disorders
  • neuro-oncological disorders
  • transcriptional dysregulation

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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