Scope and background:
The human body functions as an integrated network of communicating organs, where pathological states often involve dysregulation across multiple physiological systems. Classical pharmacology, with its focus on direct single-target interventions, demonstrates limited efficacy in treating complex multi-organ diseases such as metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, and autoimmune diseases. Indirect pharmacology has emerged as a transformative approach that investigates how therapeutic agents-particularly those derived from traditional medicine systems and natural products-produce systemic effects through inter-organ crosstalk and mediator molecules.
This Special Issue aims to advance the science of trans-organ pharmacological effects by integrating traditional medical wisdom with cutting-edge systems biology approaches. We seek to establish a robust scientific foundation for understanding how interventions in one organ system can produce therapeutic benefits in distant organs through various mediating mechanisms, including hormonal signals, immune mediators, metabolic products, and microbiota-derived molecules.
Topics of interest:
We invite submissions of original research, reviews, systematic reviews, case reports, and methodological papers that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
1. Theoretical frameworks and conceptual advances
· Development of theoretical models for indirect pharmacology
· Integration of traditional medicine holistic concepts with modern systems biology
· Historical perspectives and modern interpretations of trans-organ therapy in traditional medicine
2. Mechanistic studies and methodological innovations
· Identification and validation of intermediary mediators (hormones, metabolites, cytokines, microbiota-derived molecules)
· Advanced methodologies for studying inter-organ communication: multi-omics, advanced imaging, biosensing technologies
· Computational and network pharmacology approaches with experimental validation
· Novel experimental models for assessing trans-organ drug effects
3. Disease mechanisms and therapeutic applications
· Role of inter-organ crosstalk in disease pathogenesis and progression
· Evidence-based evaluation of integrative interventions for multi-organ diseases
· Clinical studies investigating trans-organ therapeutic effects of traditional medicines, natural products, and complementary therapies
4. Drug discovery and development
· Screening strategies for identifying trans-organ active compounds
· Biomarker development for assessing indirect pharmacological effects
· Quality control and standardization of natural products with trans-organ activities
· Pharmacological characterization of multi-organ targeting therapies
Keywords:
· Inter-organ communication
· Indirect pharmacology
· Systems medicine
· Traditional Chinese medicine
· Natural products
· Mediator identification
· Multi-omics
· Holistic therapy
We particularly encourage submissions that employ advanced biomedical technologies-including molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and advanced imaging-to elucidate the mechanisms underlying trans-organ pharmacological effects.
Submission Deadlin: March 15, 2026
Note: All submissions must comply with the journal's editorial policies and will undergo rigorous peer review. Computational studies must include experimental validation using modern laboratory techniques.