Neuropeptides in Brain Health and Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Potential
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editor
Interests: nervous system diseases; neuropharmacology; anatomy; biomolecular; musculoskeletal disorders; neuropathic pain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Neuropeptides play key roles in neural development, synaptic transmission, neuroimmune interactions, and the regulation of inflammation, myelination, and regeneration. Understanding their signaling pathways and receptor dynamics at the molecular level is crucial to uncovering their impact on brain function and dysfunction. This Special Issue will encompass topics that explore the molecular functions and mechanisms of neuropeptides in the central nervous system (CNS), both under physiological and pathological conditions.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that address neuropeptide-related mechanisms in healthy states as well as in neurodegenerative diseases, demyelinating disorders, neuropsychiatric conditions, or brain injury. Special emphasis will be placed on studies investigating intracellular signalling, gene and protein expression changes, receptor-ligand interactions, and cross-talk between neurons and glial cells.
Submissions highlighting translational aspects, such as neuropeptides as biomarkers or therapeutic targets, are encouraged, provided the work is supported by clear molecular or mechanistic data. Clinical studies and surveys without molecular analysis do not meet the journal’s scope.
This Special Issue aims to foster a deeper understanding of neuropeptide biology and promote research that bridges basic molecular insights with therapeutic development for CNS disorders.
Dr. Alessandro Castorina
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
- neuropeptides
- brain function
- neuroinflammation
- regeneration
- neurodegeneration
- biomarkers
- therapy
- CNS
- brain disorders
- demyelination
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.