Molecular Crossroads of Neural Regeneration and Disease: Mechanisms Linking Repair, Degeneration, and Tumorigenesis

The nervous system’s limited regenerative capacity contrasts sharply with its susceptibility to chronic degeneration and tumorigenesis. Evidence indicates that the molecular programs governing neural repair, degeneration, and malignant transformation often converge, necessitating a nuanced understanding for developing therapeutic interventions.

Gliomas, particularly glioblastomas, highlight how regenerative programs such as neural stemness and inflammation-driven plasticity can be hijacked by malignant processes. Neuroinflammatory and metabolic responses that serve to repair can also enable oncogenesis, marking critical intersections that need decoding for more precise therapeutic strategies.

This Research Topic aims to dissect molecular overlaps by focusing on understanding signaling pathways (such as PI3K/AKT, NF-κB) and cellular processes active in both repair and disease contexts. We seek to identify shared neural biomarkers that indicate both regenerative and pathological states, and explore therapeutic convergence by developing interventions that support repair while constraining malignancy. Additionally, the Topic encourages bridging experimental models, promoting the use of innovative models to explore mechanistic convergence.

We welcome interdisciplinary submissions addressing themes such as:

o Neural Regeneration and Degeneration: Delving into pathway reactivation and neurotrophic signaling.
o Glioma and Neural Plasticity: Examining regenerative program exploitation by tumors.
o Neuroinflammation and Immune Crosstalk: Assessing roles of cell signaling in tissue repair versus tumor inflammation.
o Organelle Dysfunction: Investigating stress responses that impact disease states.
o Clinical Translation: Linking biomarker findings with clinical outcome enhancements.
o Therapeutic Targeting: Pathway interventions with potential dual impacts on regenerative and oncological therapies.