Membrane Signaling in Neuroendocrine Development and Disease

Membrane signaling is fundamental to neuroendocrine development and lifelong endocrine homeostasis. Within the hypothalamic and pituitary systems, neural and neurosecretory cells translate environmental, metabolic, and synaptic inputs into precisely regulated hormonal outputs. These processes depend on highly organized membrane platforms where GPCRs, RTKs, ion channels, transporters, and adhesion molecules coordinate with lipids, scaffold proteins, and cytoskeletal networks to control hormone synthesis, pulsatile secretion, receptor sensitivity, and feedback regulation. Proper membrane organization is essential for cell fate specification, maturation of neuroendocrine circuits, and integration of endocrine axes across the lifespan. Disruption by genetic variants, inflammation, metabolic stress, or injury impairs signaling fidelity and contributes to endocrine disorders including congenital hypopituitarism, pubertal delay, infertility, obesity, diabetes, adrenal dysfunction, stress related conditions, and neurodegeneration with endocrine features. Advances in imaging, omics technologies, membrane biophysics, and in vivo physiology now enable detailed investigation of membrane signaling in neuroendocrine development and disease.This collection aims to define the organizing principles of membrane signaling that govern neuroendocrine cell development, hormone secretion, and endocrine axis regulation. We seek studies that clarify how lipids, scaffold proteins, cytoskeletal networks, and adhesion systems regulate receptor and ion channel activity, stimulus secretion coupling, and feedback control within hypothalamic and pituitary pathways. Contributions linking molecular membrane mechanisms to hormone dynamics, endocrine physiology, and systemic metabolic or reproductive outcomes are particularly encouraged. The Collection will also highlight therapeutically actionable membrane signaling components that may restore hormone balance in metabolic, reproductive, pituitary, and adrenal disorders. By integrating cellular neuroscience with endocrine physiology and translational investigation, this Topic aims to advance mechanistic and clinical understanding of membrane signaling in neuroendocrine development and disease.• Membrane nanodomain organization in neuroendocrine cells, including GPCR, RTK, and ion channel signaling that regulates hypothalamic and pituitary hormone synthesis and secretion• Adhesion molecules, integrins, and mechanotransduction pathways that shape neuroendocrine cell communication and hormone release• Coordination of membrane signaling with cytoskeletal dynamics and vesicle trafficking in stimulus secretion coupling within neuroendocrine systems• Developmental membrane signaling mechanisms governing hypothalamic and pituitary cell specification, migration, circuit formation, and maturation• Dysregulated membrane signaling in neuroendocrine and endocrine disorders, including metabolic disease, reproductive and pubertal disorders, pituitary and adrenal dysfunction, stress related conditions, and neurodegeneration with endocrine features• Therapeutic modulation of membrane signaling pathways to restore neuroendocrine hormone balance• Experimental and translational models for studying membrane signaling in neuroendocrine tissues, including advanced imaging, electrophysiology, stem cell derived systems, animal models, and clinical investigations Topic editors: Federico Sesti, Kristine McDermott, Tracy S Tran Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79233/membrane-signaling-in-neuroendocrine-development-and-disease