New Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of the UPR and Cell Stress
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2025 | Viewed by 108
Special Issue Editor
Interests: infectious disease; medicine; viral infections in pregnancy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a highly conserved cellular response that plays a crucial role in maintaining proteostasis under conditions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. UPR signaling, orchestrated by key branches such as PERK, ATF6, and IRE1, is essential for cell survival and adaptation. However, its dysregulation has been linked to a diverse array of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic syndromes, inflammatory conditions, and aging-related pathologies.
Beyond the UPR, cells face a variety of stressors, including oxidative stress, nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, etc., which activate both overlapping and unique molecular pathways that aim to restore homeostasis or trigger programmed cell death when damage is irreparable. These adaptive and maladaptive stress responses are intricately connected, with significant crosstalk between the UPR and other pathways such as autophagy, mitochondrial function, immune signaling, and apoptosis.
This Special Issue aims to provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the UPR and other cellular stress responses in human biology and disease. We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and short communications that explore diverse aspects of this field, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Mechanistic studies of UPR signaling pathways, including recent advances in our understanding of PERK, ATF6, and IRE1 activation and downstream effects.
- Crosstalk between the UPR and other stress response pathways, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy.
- The role of UPR and cellular stress in the pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic syndromes.
- Innovative therapeutic strategies targeting UPR-related pathways to modulate cellular stress responses for disease treatment.
- The interplay between host cellular stress responses and microbial infections.
- Emerging tools, techniques, and models, such as omics technologies, live-cell imaging, and computational approaches, for the study of UPR and cellular stress at molecular and cellular levels.
- Context-dependent responses of the UPR and cell stress in specialized cells or tissues, highlighting its role in immunity, development, or tissue regeneration.
This Special Issue seeks to collect novel research and perspectives from molecular biology, biochemistry, systems biology, and translational research fields to deepen our understanding of how cells respond to diverse stressors. By integrating insights across disciplines, we aim to foster discussions on how UPR signaling and cellular stress responses can be harnessed to design novel therapeutic approaches for a wide spectrum of human diseases. We encourage contributions that explore not only the fundamental biology of these stress responses, but also their potential for clinical translation.
Dr. Quang Duy Trinh
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- unfolded protein response
- ER stress
- oxidative stress
- mitochondrial dysfunction
- cell stress
- stress response
- UPR signaling pathway
- immunity
- inflammation
- infection
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