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Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease 2024

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Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
Interests: biochemistry; molecular mechanism; oxidative stress; endometriosis
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Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, life expectancy has significantly increased, although several chronic and disabling diseases persist in the population. Despite improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, many older adults suffer from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) that are much more frequent in an older and fragile organism. CVD is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. It is usually associated with the accumulation of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots. This Special Issue aims to stimulate comprehensive research in this field. We will accept articles on the pathophysiology of myocardial ischemia and vascular injury, molecular basis, imaging, and cardioprotective strategies including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.

Prof. Dr. Rosanna Di Paola
Dr. Roberta Fusco
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ischemia
  • cardiovascular disease
  • inflammation
  • oxidative stress
  • molecular mechanism

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2436 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic Insights into the Atrial Fibrillation Susceptibility Locus near the MYOZ1 and SYNPO2L Genes
by Sojin Y. Wass, Han Sun, Gregory Tchou, Nana Liu, David R. Van Wagoner, Mina K. Chung, John Barnard and Jonathan D. Smith
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(19), 10309; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251910309 - 25 Sep 2024
Viewed by 862
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have identified a locus on chromosome 10q22, where many co-inherited single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study seeks to identify the impact of this locus on gene expression at the transcript isoform level in human [...] Read more.
Genome-wide association studies have identified a locus on chromosome 10q22, where many co-inherited single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study seeks to identify the impact of this locus on gene expression at the transcript isoform level in human left atria and to gain insight into potential causal variants. Bulk RNA sequencing was analyzed to identify myozenin 1 (MYOZ1) and synaptopodin 2-like (SYNPO2L) transcript isoforms and the association of common SNPs in this region with transcript isoform expression levels. Chromatin marks were used to suggest candidate regulatory SNPs in this region. Protein amino acid changes were examined for predicted functional consequences. Transfection of MYOZ1 and two SYNPO2L isoforms were performed to localize their encoded proteins in cardiomyocytes derived from stem cells. We identified one MYOZ1 transcript isoform and four SYNPO2L transcript isoforms, two of which encode proteins, while the other two encode long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). The risk allele of the strongest AF susceptibility SNP on chromosome 10q22 is associated with decreased MYOZ1 expression and increased expression of the two SNYPO2L lncRNA isoforms. There are many SNPs co-inherited with the top AF-associated SNP due to linkage disequilibrium (LD), including rs11000728, which we propose as the MYOZ1 regulatory SNP, confirmed by reporter gene transfection. In addition, this LD block includes three missense SNPs in the SYNPO2L gene, with the minor protective haplotype predicted to be detrimental to protein function. MYOZ1 and both protein isoforms of SYNPO2L were localized to the sarcomere. This is a complex locus with the potential for several SNPs in a haplotype to alter AF susceptibility by opposing effects on MYOZ1 and SYNPO2L lncRNA expression, along with effects on SYNPO2L protein function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease 2024)
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10 pages, 1343 KiB  
Communication
Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist PHA 568487 Reduces Acute Inflammation but Does Not Affect Cardiac Function or Myocardial Infarct Size in the Permanent Occlusion Model
by Filip Mjörnstedt, Azra Miljanovic, Rebecka Wilhelmsson, Malin Levin and Maria E. Johansson
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084414 - 17 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1208
Abstract
Stimulation of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) has shown beneficial effects in several acute inflammatory disease models. This study aims to examine whether treatment with the selective α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 can dampen inflammation and thereby improve cardiac function after myocardial [...] Read more.
Stimulation of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) has shown beneficial effects in several acute inflammatory disease models. This study aims to examine whether treatment with the selective α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 can dampen inflammation and thereby improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction in mice. The possible anti-inflammatory properties of α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 were tested in vivo using the air pouch model and in a permanent occlusion model of acute myocardial infarction in mice. Hematologic parameters and cytokine levels were determined. Infarct size and cardiac function were assessed via echocardiography 24 h and one week after the infarction. Treatment with α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 decreased 12 (CCL27, CXCL5, IL6, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL1, CCL2, MIP1a, MIP2, CXCL16, CXCL12 and CCL25) out of 33 cytokines in the air pouch model of acute inflammation. However, α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 did not alter infarct size, ejection fraction, cardiac output or stroke volume at 24 h or at 7 days after the myocardial infarction compared with control mice. In conclusion, despite promising immunomodulatory effects in the acute inflammatory air pouch model, α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 did not affect infarct size or cardiac function after a permanent occlusion model of acute myocardial infarction in mice. Consequently, this study does not strengthen the hypothesis that stimulation of the α7nAChR is a future treatment strategy for acute myocardial infarction when reperfusion is lacking. However, whether other agonists of the α7nAChR can have different effects remains to be investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease 2024)
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11 pages, 2450 KiB  
Article
The Association of ADAMTS7 Gene Polymorphisms with the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease Occurrence and Cardiovascular Survival in the Polish Population: A Case-Control and a Prospective Cohort Study
by Joanna Iwanicka, Anna Balcerzyk-Matić, Tomasz Iwanicki, Katarzyna Mizia-Stec, Paweł Bańka, Artur Filipecki, Katarzyna Gawron, Alicja Jarosz, Tomasz Nowak, Jolanta Krauze and Paweł Niemiec
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(4), 2274; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042274 - 14 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1260
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the polymorphisms of the ADAMTS7 gene affect the risk of occurrence and mortality due to CAD. The study group included 231 patients diagnosed with CAD and 240 control blood donors. The genotyping of specified [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the polymorphisms of the ADAMTS7 gene affect the risk of occurrence and mortality due to CAD. The study group included 231 patients diagnosed with CAD and 240 control blood donors. The genotyping of specified polymorphisms, i.e., rs1994016, rs3825807, and rs7173743, was performed using the TaqMan-PCR. We found that the C allele carriers of the rs1994016 and A allele carriers of the rs3825807 polymorphisms increased the risk of CAD, respectively: OR = 1.72, p = 0.036; OR = 1.64, p = 0.04. Moreover, we studied the biological interactions of specified variants, i.e., rs3825807, rs1994016, and rs7173743, and previously approved risk factors of CAD. We demonstrated here that selected polymorphisms of ADAMTS7 increased the risk of CAD altogether with abnormalities of total cholesterol and LDL concentrations in serum. Although survival analyses did not reveal statistical significance, we observed a trend for the AA genotype of the rs3825807 ADAMTS7, which may predispose to death due to CAD in a 5-year follow-up. In conclusion, the ADAMTS7 polymorphisms investigated in this study may increase the risk of occurrence and/or death due to CAD in the Polish population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease 2024)
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13 pages, 2464 KiB  
Article
Nicotine Impairs the Anti-Contractile Function of Perivascular Adipose Tissue by Inhibiting the PPARγ–Adiponectin–AdipoR1 Axis
by Afifah Zahirah Abd Rami, Amilia Aminuddin, Adila A. Hamid, Mohd Helmy Mokhtar and Azizah Ugusman
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15100; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015100 - 12 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1231
Abstract
Nicotine is an addictive compound found in cigarette smoke that leads to vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) exerts an anti-contractile effect on the underlying vasculature through the production of adipokines, such as adiponectin, which acts on adiponectin receptors 1 [...] Read more.
Nicotine is an addictive compound found in cigarette smoke that leads to vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) exerts an anti-contractile effect on the underlying vasculature through the production of adipokines, such as adiponectin, which acts on adiponectin receptors 1 (adipoR1) to cause vasorelaxation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a transcription factor that regulates adiponectin gene expression and PVAT development. This study aimed to determine the effect of nicotine on the anti-contractile function of PVAT via the PPARγ–adiponectin–adipoR1 axis. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into a control group (given normal saline), a nicotine group (given 0.8 mg/kg of nicotine), and a nicotine + PPARγ agonist group (given nicotine and 5 mg/kg of telmisartan). Thoracic aorta PVAT was harvested after 21 days of treatment. The results showed that nicotine reduced the anti-contractile effect of PVAT on the underlying thoracic aorta. Nicotine also decreased the gene and protein expression of PPARγ, adiponectin, and adipoR1 in PVAT. Treatment with telmisartan restored the anti-contractile effect of PVAT and increased the gene and protein expression of PPARγ, adiponectin, and adipoR1 in PVAT. In conclusion, nicotine attenuates the anti-contractile function of PVAT through inhibition of the PPARγ–adiponectin–adipoR1 axis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease 2024)
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