Receptor and Ion Channel-Mediated Mechanosensation in the Nervous System

Mechanical forces are fundamental regulators of neuronal development, excitability, and circuit function. From membrane tension and shear stress to extracellular matrix remodelling, neurons continuously interpret physical cues to guide axon growth, modulate synaptic transmission, and maintain cellular homeostasis. Alongside neurons, glial cells such as astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and NG2 glia also interpret mechanical cues. These cues influence synaptic homeostasis, inflammatory signalling, metabolic support, and myelination. Throughout the CNS, cells are continuously exposed to membrane tension, shear stress, extracellular matrix stiffness, and tissue-level deformation. They convert these physical inputs into biochemical signals that guide growth, regulate excitability, shape cell–cell interactions, and maintain structural integrity.Recent advances in molecular biophysics, high-resolution imaging, and genetic manipulation have revealed new classes of mechanosensitive channels, cytoskeletal transducers, and membrane-associated complexes that convert mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals. These discoveries are reshaping our understanding of how neural cells sense and respond to the physical environment across both physiological and pathological contexts.This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge work defining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neural mechanosensing, how mechanical forces influence circuit-level computation and plasticity, and how disrupted mechanotransduction contributes to neurological disease. We welcome submissions spanning basic mechanistic studies, model organism research, and translational perspectives on mechanobiology-driven disorders.Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:•    Molecular characterization of mechanosensitive ion channels (e.g., Piezo, TRP family, ASICs) and their roles in neural function•    Cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane tension, adhesion complexes, and other force-transducing elements in neurons and glia•    Mechanosensitive regulation of axon guidance, dendritic remodeling, and synaptic plasticity•    Biomechanical modulation of neuronal excitability and intracellular signalling pathways•    Tools and methods for measuring or manipulating mechanical forces in neural tissue, including optical, genetic, and nano-engineered approaches•    Mechanotransduction in neurodevelopment, sensory systems, proprioception, and pain circuits•    Mechanical contributions to neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory, or traumatic CNS/PNS disorders•    Disease models revealing how disrupted mechanosensing alters glial activity, neuron–glia communication, circuit-level outcomes, or therapeutic responses Topic editors: Agnese Secondo, Maria Velasco-Estevez, Assunta Virtuoso Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77217/receptor-and-ion-channel-mediated-mechanosensation-in-the-nervous-system