Dear Colleagues,

Stress-related brain disorders arise from dynamic crosstalk between neural circuits and immune pathways. This Special Issue aims to highlight emerging evidence that immune mediators do not merely respond to neural activity but actively shape synaptic function, circuit stability, and behavior. We seek contributions that elucidate how acute and chronic stressors reprogram immune signaling in the brain and periphery, and how these changes influence cognition, affect, and resilience or vulnerability to disease. Topics of interest include glial and neuronal immune signaling, complement and interferon pathways, mitochondrial and extracellular vesicle–based inflammatory communication, and multi-scale approaches linking molecular events to systems-level dysfunction. We particularly welcome translational and mechanistic studies that bridge animal models, human biomarkers, and computational or systems neuroscience frameworks. By integrating cellular, circuit, and behavioral perspectives, this issue will advance our understanding of how immune processes drive maladaptive plasticity and identify innovative intervention strategies for stress-associated neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi
Guest Editor