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Molecular Advances in Age-Related Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 9973

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: aging; oxidative stress; nitric oxide; endothelial cells; endothelial progenitor cells; angiogenesis; inflammation; cell senescence; apoptosis; atherosclerosis; diabetes, endothelial dysfunction, sirtuins and cardiovascular disease; natural products; betaines; health; bioactive compounds; free radicals; antioxidants; ergothioneine; cell cycle; cancer-related biochemical pathways; cell proliferation; senescence; cancer cell death; epigenetic regulation; sirtuins and cancer
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Age is the greatest risk factor for chronic diseases such as cancer, metabolic disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. The pillars of aging include inflammaging and metabolism, key fields of molecular and translational research critical to the aging process and age-related diseases.

Among factors contributing to aging and human diseases, including diabetes and cancer, sirtuins regulate the activity of proteins implicated in metabolism, oxidative stress, cell survival, and autophagy, potentially affecting the health span by mediating the crosstalk between the environment and genome. Other factors are epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications (PTM) and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by noncoding RNAs (microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs). Indeed, epigenetic regulation has been identified as a key mechanism to regulate age-related phenotypes and diseases. In this regard, the intake of specific nutrients or nutraceuticals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may improve the health status by affecting transcription and translation and the gene expression profile.

In the past few years, basic and translational research has been focused on molecular mechanisms in age-related diseases, as well as the identification of novel modulators able to target the pathways of aging and diseases with high specificity. Moreover, the discovery of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs and other minor classes of RNAs, has disclosed a new scenario for the determination of novel molecular targets in the treatment of chronic degenerative diseases including cancer and metabolic diseases.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences will focus on “Molecular Advances in Age-related Disease”, including new insights into the molecular mechanisms of aging, cancer, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, emerging data on natural or synthetic epigenetic modulators in relation with new therapeutic options are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Maria Luisa Balestrieri
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • aging
  • cancer
  • cardiovascular disease
  • inflammation
  • therapeutics
  • diabetes

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 3050 KiB  
Article
Click Chemistry of Selenium Dihalides: Novel Bicyclic Organoselenium Compounds Based on Selenenylation/Bis-Functionalization Reactions and Evaluation of Glutathione Peroxidase-like Activity
by Maxim V. Musalov and Vladimir A. Potapov
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 15629; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415629 - 9 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2006
Abstract
A number of highly efficient methods for the preparation of novel derivatives of 9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane in high yields based on selenium dibromide and cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene are reported. The one-pot syntheses of 2,6-diorganyloxy-9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes using various O-nucleophiles including alkanols, phenols, benzyl, allyl, and propargyl alcohols were developed. [...] Read more.
A number of highly efficient methods for the preparation of novel derivatives of 9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane in high yields based on selenium dibromide and cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene are reported. The one-pot syntheses of 2,6-diorganyloxy-9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes using various O-nucleophiles including alkanols, phenols, benzyl, allyl, and propargyl alcohols were developed. New 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes were obtained by the copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2,6-diazido-9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane with unsubstituted gaseous acetylene and propargyl alcohol. The synthesis of 2,6-bis(vinylsulfanyl)-9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, based on the generation of corresponding dithiolate anion from bis[amino(iminio)methylsulfanyl]-9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane dibromide, followed by the nucleophilic addition of the dithiolate anion to unsubstituted acetylene, was developed. The glutathione peroxidase-like activity of the obtained water-soluble products was estimated and compounds with high activity were found. Overall, 2,6-Diazido-9-selenabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane exhibits the highest activity among the obtained compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Age-Related Diseases)
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16 pages, 9811 KiB  
Article
Breed and Feeding System Impact the Bioactive Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Bovine Milk
by Angela Salzano, Maria Chiara Di Meo, Nunzia D’Onofrio, Giovanna Bifulco, Alessio Cotticelli, Francesca Licitra, Antonio Iraci Fuintino, Giuseppe Cascone, Maria Luisa Balestrieri, Ettore Varricchio and Giuseppe Campanile
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11088; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911088 - 21 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1772
Abstract
In the present study, we aimed at assessing the influence of breed and feeding system on the bovine milk profile of betaines and carnitines and milk capacity in counteracting the inflammatory endothelial cell (EC) damage induced by interleukin (IL)-6. In the first experimental [...] Read more.
In the present study, we aimed at assessing the influence of breed and feeding system on the bovine milk profile of betaines and carnitines and milk capacity in counteracting the inflammatory endothelial cell (EC) damage induced by interleukin (IL)-6. In the first experimental design, two breeds were chosen (Holstein vs. Modicana) to investigate the biomolecule content and antioxidant capacity in milk and dairy products. In the second experimental design, two feeding systems (pasture vs. total mixed ratio) were tested only in Holstein to evaluate the possible effect on the functional profile of milk and dairy products. Finally, the bulk milk from the two experimental designs was used to evaluate the efficacy of preventing IL-6-induced endothelial inflammatory damage. Results showed that Modicana milk and whey had higher biomolecule content and antioxidant activity compared to Holstein milk (p < 0.01). Milk from Holstein fed TMR showed higher concentration of γ-butyrobetaine, δ-valerobetaine (p < 0.01), and l-carnitine (p < 0.05). Similarly, whey from Holstein fed TMR also showed higher content of δ-valerobetaine, glycine betaine, l-carnitine, and acetyl-l-carnitine (p < 0.01) compared to the Holstein fed pasture. Conversely, the antioxidant activity of milk and dairy products was not affected by the feeding system. In ECs, all milk samples reduced the IL-6-induced cytokine release, as well as the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the induction of cell death, with the most robust effect elicited by Modicana milk (p < 0.01). Overall, Modicana milk showed a higher content of biomolecules and antioxidant activity compared to Holstein, suggesting that the breed, more than the feeding system, can positively affect the health-promoting profile of dairy cattle milk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Age-Related Diseases)
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15 pages, 4469 KiB  
Article
Buffalo Milk Whey Activates Necroptosis and Apoptosis in a Xenograft Model of Colorectal Cancer
by Nunzio Antonio Cacciola, Angela Salzano, Nunzia D’Onofrio, Tommaso Venneri, Paola De Cicco, Francesco Vinale, Orsolina Petillo, Manuela Martano, Paola Maiolino, Gianluca Neglia, Ciro Campanile, Lorella Severino, Carmine Merola, Francesca Borrelli, Maria Luisa Balestrieri and Giuseppe Campanile
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8464; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158464 - 30 Jul 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3082
Abstract
Recent pharmacological research on milk whey, a byproduct of the dairy industry, has identified several therapeutic properties that could be exploited in modern medicine. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effects of whey from Mediterranean buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) milk. [...] Read more.
Recent pharmacological research on milk whey, a byproduct of the dairy industry, has identified several therapeutic properties that could be exploited in modern medicine. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effects of whey from Mediterranean buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) milk. The antitumour effect of delactosed milk whey (DMW) was evaluated using the HCT116 xenograft mouse model of colorectal cancer (CRC). There were no discernible differences in tumour growth between treated and untreated groups. Nevertheless, haematoxylin and eosin staining of the xenograft tissues showed clearer signs of different cell death in DMW-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated mice. Detailed biochemical and molecular biological analyses revealed that DMW was able to downregulate the protein expression levels of c-myc, phospho-Histone H3 (ser 10) and p-ERK. Moreover, DMW also activated RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL axis in tumour tissues from xenograft mice, thus, suggesting a necroptotic effect. The necroptotic pathway was accompanied by activation of the apoptotic pathway as revealed by increased expression of both cleaved caspase-3 and PARP-1. At the molecular level, DMW-induced cell death was also associated with (i) upregulation of SIRT3, SIRT6, and PPAR-γ and (ii) downregulation of LDHA and PPAR-α. Overall, our results unveil the potential of whey as a source of biomolecules of food origin in the clinical setting of novel strategies for the treatment of CRC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Age-Related Diseases)
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Review

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22 pages, 561 KiB  
Review
Estradiol as the Trigger of Sirtuin-1-Dependent Cell Signaling with a Potential Utility in Anti-Aging Therapies
by Kamil Karolczak and Cezary Watala
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 13753; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813753 - 6 Sep 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2267
Abstract
Aging entails the inevitable loss of the structural and functional integrity of cells and tissues during the lifetime. It is a highly hormone-dependent process; although, the exact mechanism of hormone involvement, including sex hormones, is unclear. The marked suppression of estradiol synthesis during [...] Read more.
Aging entails the inevitable loss of the structural and functional integrity of cells and tissues during the lifetime. It is a highly hormone-dependent process; although, the exact mechanism of hormone involvement, including sex hormones, is unclear. The marked suppression of estradiol synthesis during menopause suggests that the hormone may be crucial in maintaining cell lifespan and viability in women. Recent studies also indicate that the same may be true for men. Similar anti-aging features are attributed to sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which may possibly be linked at the molecular level with estradiol. This finding may be valuable for understanding the aging process, its regulation, and possible prevention against unhealthy aging. The following article summarizes the initial studies published in this field with a focus on age-associated diseases, like cancer, cardiovascular disease and atherogenic metabolic shift, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and muscle damage, as well as neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Age-Related Diseases)
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