Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Research on Molecular Chaperones: Role and Targeting in Health and Disease

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 December 2021) | Viewed by 17647

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Antonella Marino Gammazza

E-Mail
Guest Editor

Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Interests: molecular chaperones; heat shock proteins; post-translational modification; cell biology; tissue homeostasis; cancerogenesis; neurodegeneration; bioinformatics; anatomy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Celeste Caruso Bavisotto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostic (BiND), Human Anatomy Section, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Interests: cell differentiation; tissue homeostasis; organ remodeling; organ-on-chip; cell stress; chaperones; heat shock proteins; chaperonopathies; exosomes; glioblastoma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit original articles to a Special Issue entitled “Research on molecular chaperones: role and targeting in health and disease”.

Molecular chaperones, most of which are heat shock proteins (HSPs), are part of phylogenetically related families and are essential in living cells. Molecular chaperones play a variety of roles, including assisting the folding of nascent polypeptides, supporting protein reparation or degradation, and driving protein translocation through membranes. Chaperones are induced after stress, which changes their localization and function. For example, they can be expressed in cell membranes or secreted extracellularly where they may interact with the immune system.

Due to the central role of molecular chaperones in different biological processes, their dysregulation or malfunction may cause several diseases. The goal of this Special Issue is to collect original research papers, reviews that focus on the role of molecular chaperones in human diseases and highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of these chaperones.

Dr. Antonella Marino Gammazza

Dr. Celeste Caruso Bavisotto

Guest Editors

Keywords

Molecular chaperones
Lipidic chaperones
Heat shock proteins
Extracellular chaperones
Extracellular vesicles
Chronic diseases
Tissue homeostasis
Biomedicine
Translational medicine
Bioinformatics

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.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 4010 KiB

Open AccessArticle

miR-29b Regulates TGF-β1-Induced Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition by Inhibiting Heat Shock Protein 47 Expression in Airway Epithelial Cells

by Jae-Min Shin, Joo-Hoo Park, Hyun-Woo Yang, Jee Won Moon, Heung-Man Lee and Il-Ho Park

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 11535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111535 - 26 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

Tissue remodeling contributes to ongoing inflammation and refractoriness of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). During this process, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in dysregulated remodeling and both microRNA (miR)-29b and heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) may be engaged in the pathophysiology of CRS. This study aimed to determine the role of miR-29b and HSP47 in modulating transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced EMT and migration in airway epithelial cells. Expression levels of miR-29b, HSP47, E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin and fibronectin were assessed through real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted against miR-29b and HSP47 were transfected to regulate the expression of EMT-related markers. Cell migration was evaluated with wound scratch and transwell migration assay. miR-29b mimic significantly inhibited the expression of HSP47 and TGF-β1-induced EMT-related markers in A549 cells. However, the miR-29b inhibitor more greatly induced the expression of them. HSP47 knockout suppressed TGF-β1-induced EMT marker levels. Functional studies indicated that TGF-β1-induced EMT was regulated by miR-29b and HSP47 in A549 cells. These findings were further verified in primary nasal epithelial cells. miR-29b modulated TGF-β1-induced EMT-related markers and migration via HSP47 expression modulation in A549 and primary nasal epithelial cells. These results suggested the importance of miR-29b and HSP47 in pathologic tissue remodeling progression in CRS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Molecular Chaperones: Role and Targeting in Health and Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 1389 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring the Role of Hsp60 in Alzheimer’s Disease and Type 2 Diabetes: Suggestion for Common Drug Targeting

by Stefania Zimbone, Maria Carmela Di Rosa, Santina Chiechio and Maria Laura Giuffrida

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(15), 12456; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512456 - 5 Aug 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1978

Abstract

Heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) is a member of the chaperonin family of heat shock proteins (HSPs), primarily found in the mitochondrial matrix. As a molecular chaperone, Hsp60 plays an essential role in mediating protein folding and assembly, and together with the co-chaperon Hsp10, it is thought to maintain protein homeostasis. Recently, it has been found to localize in non-canonical, extra-mitochondrial sites such as cell membranes or extracellular fluids, particularly in pathological conditions. Starting from its biological function, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential involvement of Hsp60 in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), which are known to share impaired key pathways and molecular dysfunctions. Fragmentary data reported in the literature reveal interesting links between the altered expression level or localization of this chaperonin and several disease conditions. The present work offers an overview of the past and more recent knowledge about Hsp60 and its role in the most important cellular processes to shed light on neuronal Hsp60 as a potential common target for both pathologies. The absence of any effective cure for AD patients makes the identification of a new molecular target a promising path by which to move forward in the development of new drugs and/or repositioning of therapies already used for T2DM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Molecular Chaperones: Role and Targeting in Health and Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1165 KiB

Open AccessReview

Chaperone Therapy in Fabry Disease

by Frank Weidemann, Ana Jovanovic, Ken Herrmann and Irfan Vardarli

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1887; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031887 - 8 Feb 2022

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5353

Abstract

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal multisystem storage disorder induced by a mutation in the alpha-galactosidase A (GLA) gene. Reduced activity or deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A (AGAL) leads to escalating storage of intracellular globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) in numerous organs, including the kidneys, heart and nerve system. The established treatment for 20 years is intravenous enzyme replacement therapy. Lately, oral chaperone therapy was introduced and is a therapeutic alternative in patients with amenable mutations. Early starting of therapy is essential for long-term improvement. This review describes chaperone therapy in Fabry disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Molecular Chaperones: Role and Targeting in Health and Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 14573 KiB

Open AccessReview

Molecular Chaperones and miRNAs in Epilepsy: Pathogenic Implications and Therapeutic Prospects

by Leila Zummo, Alessandra Maria Vitale, Celeste Caruso Bavisotto, Marco De Curtis, Rita Garbelli, Anna Teresa Giallonardo, Carlo Di Bonaventura, Martina Fanella, Everly Conway de Macario, Francesco Cappello, Alberto J. L. Macario and Antonella Marino Gammazza

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 8601; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168601 - 10 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3028

Abstract

Epilepsy is a pathologic condition with high prevalence and devastating consequences for the patient and its entourage. Means for accurate diagnosis of type, patient monitoring for predicting seizures and follow up, and efficacious treatment are desperately needed. To improve this adverse outcome, miRNAs and the chaperone system (CS) are promising targets to understand pathogenic mechanisms and for developing theranostics applications. miRNAs implicated in conditions known or suspected to favor seizures such as neuroinflammation, to promote epileptic tolerance and neuronal survival, to regulate seizures, and others showing variations in expression levels related to seizures are promising candidates as useful biomarkers for diagnosis and patient monitoring, and as targets for developing novel therapies. Components of the CS are also promising as biomarkers and as therapeutic targets, since they participate in epileptogenic pathways and in cytoprotective mechanisms in various epileptogenic brain areas, even if what they do and how is not yet clear. The data in this review should help in the identification of molecular targets among the discussed miRNAs and CS components for research aiming at understanding epileptogenic mechanisms and, subsequently, develop means for predicting/preventing seizures and treating the disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Molecular Chaperones: Role and Targeting in Health and Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1104 KiB

Open AccessReview

Hsp100 Molecular Chaperone ClpB and Its Role in Virulence of Bacterial Pathogens

by Sabina Kędzierska-Mieszkowska and Michal Zolkiewski

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5319; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22105319 - 18 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4054

Abstract

This review focuses on the molecular chaperone ClpB that belongs to the Hsp100/Clp subfamily of the AAA+ ATPases and its biological function in selected bacterial pathogens, causing a variety of human infectious diseases, including zoonoses. It has been established that ClpB disaggregates and reactivates aggregated cellular proteins. It has been postulated that ClpB’s protein disaggregation activity supports the survival of pathogenic bacteria under host-induced stresses (e.g., high temperature and oxidative stress), which allows them to rapidly adapt to the human host and establish infection. Interestingly, ClpB may also perform other functions in pathogenic bacteria, which are required for their virulence. Since ClpB is not found in human cells, this chaperone emerges as an attractive target for novel antimicrobial therapies in combating bacterial infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Molecular Chaperones: Role and Targeting in Health and Disease)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Research on Molecular Chaperones: Role and Targeting in Health and Disease

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI