Epigenetics and Functional Studies of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 216
Special Issue Editors
2. Operative Research Unit of Medical Genetics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
Interests: neuropsychiatric disorders; autism; exome sequencing; CNVs; functional studies
Interests: biochemistry; immunology; phytochemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Neurodevelopmental disorders are multifactorial diseases with a strong genetic component. Recent research has pointed out that in addition to genetic factors, epigenetic mechanisms triggered by environmental factors, including toxicants, organic pollutants, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and nutrition and diet, may also contribute to their onset. Environmental and lifestyle factors influence the individual epigenetic status by acting on molecular mechanisms as DNA methylation and/or histone modifications. In this regard, recent studies have focused on the importance of substances in plant-based food as environmental factors modulating epigenetic pathways in many diseases. Indeed, DNA methylation and gene transcription profiles represent the so called “internal exposome”, namely the individual response to whatever is in the outside environment (the “external exposome”). Based on this principle, levels of DNA methylation/gene expression in different health conditions can be considered as a biomarker of exposure, resilience and disease risk. Moreover, post mortem brain studies on patients affected by neurodevelopmental disorders have shown how the dysregulation of immunological pathways may play an important role in their etiology. In fact, environmental and lifestyle factors are able to change immune response and probably modulate chronic and systemic inflammation that may be considered risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders.
The aim of this Special Issue is to collect recent studies on the epigenetics of neurodevelopmental disorders and related functional studies. Studies considering the role of environmental and lifestyle factors as epigenetic modulators of inflammation and dysregulation of the immune system are particularly welcomed.
Dr. Carla Lintas
Dr. Claudio Tabolacci
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 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. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
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
- neurodevolpmental disorders
- epigenetics
- natural compounds
- inflammation
- immune system
- environmental factors
- exposome
