Molecular and Genomic Cross‑Talk Between Lung and Brain Disorders

The lungs and the central nervous system are closely linked through blood circulation and neural pathways. Lung diseases can affect brain structure and function through various mechanisms. For instance, patients with lung cancer are prone to developing brain metastases, where tumor cells disseminate and invade the central nervous system via blood, leading to neurological dysfunction and increased intracranial pressure. Additionally, chronic pulmonary arterial hypertension can significantly increase cerebrovascular resistance, causing abnormal cerebral blood flow perfusion. Long-term hypoxemia can induce pathological cerebrovascular remodeling, white matter damage, and cognitive decline. In addition, brain diseases can also have an impact on the lungs, such as stroke or brain tumors, which can lead to decreased respiratory function and increased pulmonary complications, and in severe cases, respiratory failure. Therefore, an in-depth exploration of the lung, brain and their interaction mechanism is of great significance for optimizing comprehensive clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.

This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of the shared and organ-specific genomic factors underlying comorbidity between lung and brain disease in humans. We welcome submissions investigating genomic alterations, transcriptomic signatures, gene networks, and molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis, progression, or clinical manifestations of both pulmonary and neurological diseases. Studies that utilize multi-omics approaches, systems medicine, and functional analyses to link human gene variation and expression with disease traits, risk, or response to therapy are especially encouraged. The goal is to uncover genetic determinants and mechanisms that can be translated into precision medicine and disease prevention for patients with interconnected lung and brain disorders.
The scope of this Research Topic encompasses human-focused genomics research exploring the interplay between the lung and brain, with flexibility to include a diverse range of diseases and mechanisms while maintaining a strong focus on functional and translational genomics. To cultivate a well-rounded collection, we welcome articles focused on, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Genomic and transcriptomic alterations shared by or unique to lung and brain diseases.
• Polymorphisms, rare variants, or epigenomic features contributing to comorbidity or disease severity
• Functional impacts of risk genes and genetic networks on lung-brain communication or disease processes
• Genetic and molecular determinants of lung cancer metastasis to the brain
• Bio-signatures and gene expression profiles in patients with pulmonary disease–associated neurological symptoms (e.g., depression, Alzheimer’s)
• Integrative multi-omics and systems genomics approaches to unravel the lung-brain axis.
• Development and validation of genomic biomarkers predicting risk or prognosis in comorbid conditions
• Mechanisms by which lung or brain genomics inform or enhance clinical interventions and precision medicine

We invite original research, reviews, letters, and commentaries that utilize human genomic data and provide functional or translational insights. Research using multi-omics, integrative human data analysis, or molecular validation to elucidate the genetic and molecular underpinnings of lung-brain interactions will be prioritized.