Ion Channels as Modulators of Neuroinflammation and Neuroimmune Crosstalk

Neuroinflammation is now recognized as a central driver instead of being merely a consequence of many neurological diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, and chronic pain. While cytokines, pattern-recognition receptors, and glial signaling pathways have been extensively studied, ion channels are emerging as critical yet underexplored regulators of neuroimmune communication within the central nervous system.Ion channels expressed by neurons, microglia, astrocytes, infiltrating immune cells, and components of the neurovascular unit shape immune responses by governing membrane potential, calcium dynamics, metabolic reprogramming, inflammasome activation, cytokine release, and cell migration. Beyond their classical roles in excitability, diverse channel families such as potassium, calcium, TRP, chloride, and mechanosensitive channels act as gatekeepers of immune cell activation states and neuroinflammatory tone. Dysregulated channel activity can therefore amplify maladaptive neuroimmune feedback loops, coupling neuronal dysfunction to chronic inflammation and progressive neurodegeneration.Despite growing interest in this area, the therapeutic and pharmacological potential of ion channels as modulators of neuroinflammation remains fragmented across disciplines, with limited integration between neuroscience, immunology, and drug discovery. This Research Topic aims to bridge that gap by highlighting ion channels as active signaling hubs at the neuroimmune interface rather than passive conductance pathways.We welcome contributions that investigate molecular mechanisms, cell-type–specific functions, and therapeutic strategies targeting ion channels in neuroinflammatory contexts. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, channel regulation of microglial and astrocytic phenotypes, ion-dependent inflammasome signaling, neuroimmune synapse function, blood–brain barrier interactions, and the development of channel-targeted interventions to modulate pathological inflammation. By bringing together mechanistic, pharmacological, and translational studies, this Research Topic seeks to reposition ion channels as central modulators and viable therapeutic targets of neuroimmune crosstalk in neurological disease. Topic editors: Linlin Ma, Beatrice Mihaela Radu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82277/ion-channels-as-modulators-of-neuroinflammation-and-neuroimmune-crosstalk