The Molecular Mechanisms of Lead-Induced Neurotoxicity
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Toxicology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 98
Editors
Interests: metallomics; neurotoxicology; neurobiochemistry and molecular biology of heavy metals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: lead neurotoxicity; molecular mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity; lead and neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are honored to invite authors to submit original research papers, reviews, and meta-analyses on the topic of "The Molecular Mechanisms of Lead-Induced Neurotoxicity” for a planned thematic Special Issue. Despite substantial efforts to reduce its use, lead remains a major environmental toxicant due to its persistence and well-documented neurotoxicity. The developing brain is particularly vulnerable, and exposure during prenatal and early postnatal life has been associated with long-term cognitive, behavioral, and neurological impairments. Elevated blood lead levels have been linked to deficits in memory, attention, learning capacity, and reduced IQ, while emerging evidence suggests its involvement in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia. In addition, early-life lead exposure may contribute to neurodegenerative processes later in life, increasing the risk of disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Growing evidence also indicates that lead may disrupt vitamin and micronutrient homeostasis and alter gut microbiota composition, potentially affecting gut–brain communication and inflammatory pathways.
For this Special Issue, we invite researchers to submit original research articles and comprehensive review papers focused on identifying and explaining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity. Particular emphasis will be placed on studies addressing the following:
- Neurogenesis and neuronal development;
- Intracellular signaling pathways;
- Synaptic protein function;
- Synaptic transmission and plasticity;
- Neuroinflammation and inflammatory signaling;
- Astrocyte–neuron metabolic cooperation;
- Disturbances in vitamin and micronutrient metabolism;
- Lead-induced alterations of the gut microbiota and gut–brain axis;
- Molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment;
- Pathways contributing to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders following lead exposure.
We particularly welcome contributions exploring integrative mechanisms linking environmental lead exposure with metabolic dysregulation, intestinal microbiome alterations, and neurological outcomes across the lifespan.
Prof. Dr. Irena Baranowska-Bosiacka
Dr. Magdalena Gąssowska-Dobrowolska
Guest Editors
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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-anonymized 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
- lead
- neurogenesis and neuronal development
- intracellular signaling pathways
- synaptic protein function
- synaptic transmission and plasticity
- neuroinflammation and inflammatory signaling
- astrocyte–neuron metabolic cooperation
- disturbances in vitamin and micronutrient metabolism
- lead-induced alterations of the gut microbiota and gut–brain axis
- molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment
- pathways contributing to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders following lead exposure
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