Molecular Pathways and Therapeutic Strategies for Fibrotic Conditions
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2025 | Viewed by 1248
Special Issue Editor
Interests: inflammation; fibrotic diseases; autoimmune diseases; rheumatology; drug discovery; natural molecules
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Fibrotic conditions, characterized by the aberrant deposition of extracellular matrix proteins resulting in tissue scarring and dysfunction, impose a significant global health burden, necessitating a thorough comprehension of their underlying molecular pathways for effective intervention.
This Special Issue adopts a multidisciplinary approach encompassing basic research, preclinical models, clinical trials, and translational studies in order to elucidate key signaling cascades, such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), the mitogen-activated protein kinases phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) pathway, and the cytokine-mediated pathways orchestrating fibrosis. Additionally, it highlights novel therapeutic modalities, including small-molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies, and repurposed drugs, aimed at modulating fibrotic pathways to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Understanding both the common and unique mechanisms governing fibrotic and sclerotic processes in systemic and autoimmune diseases enables the identification of targets for the different pathologies associated with these conditions. Notably, fibrosis is not only a hallmark of chronic diseases but also a significant feature of cancer progression, where tumor-associated fibrosis, known as desmoplasia, fosters tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis through molecular crosstalk between cancer cells, stromal cells, and the extracellular matrix. Thus, targeting fibrotic pathways is crucial for effective cancer therapy.
By facilitating collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry partners, this Special Issue seeks original articles and reviewers to expedite the development of innovative anti-fibrotic therapies, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and reducing the global burden of fibrotic diseases.
Dr. Morena Scotece
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- fibrosis
- fibrotic disorders
- autoimmune diseases
- cancer
- adipose tissue fibrosis
- repurposed drugs
- gene therapies
- cytokine-mediated pathways
- anti-fibrotic therapies
- systemic diseases
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.
