Neuropeptides (NPs) are a group of peptides produced by neurons and neuroendocrine cells of the central nervous system (CNS). In the last decades, numerous NPs were discovered arousing numerous neuroscientists’ interests. Several studies have shown that NPs were involved in extensive brain functions, including feeding behaviors, reward, behavioral stress response, and learning and memory. Like traditional neurotransmitters, NPs can bind to specific surface receptors and subsequently regulate neuronal activity. Significantly, NPs can behave like traditional neurotransmitters due to high binding affinity and potency for target receptors. Besides, NPs also have blood-brain barrier permeability and are smaller than common proteins. Therefore, NPs and their receptors have been identified as potential drug targets for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Recently, the number of NPs and their physiological and neurological effects have been widely reported. These results indicate that NPs' regulation might be implicated in the neurophysiological and neuropathological mechanisms of different neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. In addition, clinical studies have shown that the secretion and expression of NPs are significantly altered in different pathological conditions, indicating that serum NPs might be potential diagnostic biomarkers for neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Possible mechanisms of NPs’ implication in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders might relate to their interaction with neurotransmitter systems. Many NPs are co-released with other traditional small-molecule neurotransmitters and corporately affect postsynaptic neuronal activities, which in turn alter the transcription and expression of NPs. Besides, in vitro and animal studies showed that NPs were implicated in different neurophysiological activities, such as neurogenesis and neuroprotection. However, the molecular mechanisms of NPs in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders might warrant further investigations.

Therefore, in this Special Issue we will collect articles focusing on recent advances in the physiological modulatory effect of neuropeptides in the CNS and highlight the therapeutic potential of different neuropeptides on neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Both original research and review articles are welcomed.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Neuropeptides: potential neuroprotective agents
• The effect of neuropeptides in neuroimmunomodulation
• Neurodevelopment and epigenetic modification of neuropeptides in the brain
• Neuropeptides as neurotrophic factors in neurological and behavioral regulation
• Metabolism, neuroendocrine, neuropsychiatric, and neurological disorders
• Neuropeptides and neuroimmune crosstalk in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders
• The effect of drugs on neuropsychological and neurological diseases
• Pathogenic genes involved in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders
• Clinical and basic research in the progress of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders
• Biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders
• Molecular mechanisms in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders
• Bioinformatics and interdisciplinary research in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders