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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Molecular Aspects of Diseases Origin and Development
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Molecular Aspects of Diseases Origin and Development

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 9351

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Natalia Kurhaluk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biology, Pomeranian Uniwersity in Słupsk, Słupsk, Poland
Interests: pollution-induced oxidative damage; toxicity and oxidative injury; heavy metals; ecotoxicology; ecophysiology; nitric oxide; environmental stressors; environmental stressors in human and animal health; antioxidant defense in pathology; redox imbalance in human and animal diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview and update on advances in the development of original hypotheses regarding biochemical reactions in tissues, organs and systems aimed at compensating for the effects and/or consequences of various damaging factors, elucidating different molecular and cellular mechanisms of physiological and pathological processes, as well as the action of effective drugs based on biomolecules. Furthermore, this Special Issue will highlight the epigenetic mechanisms of action, application and use of effective biomolecule-based agents to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of these compounds.

This Special Issue seeks to publish papers on the mechanisms directly related to molecular diagnosis and novel pathomechanisms regarding typical metabolic disorders, as well as molecular aspects of pathophysiological abnormalities in environmental and lifestyle diseases. The implementation of cell signaling mechanisms regulating physiological and pathogenetic processes under the influence of various damaging factors will also be the focus of this Special Issue. We would be very pleased if you would consider submitting an article on any topic related to this theme.

The editorial team is planning a fast publication process for this Special Issue and will handle all submissions in an expeditious manner. Your article will also be promoted by the journal to ensure that our community sees it and has every opportunity to read it.

I hope you will consider contributing to this Special Issue. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. If you are not able to contribute at this time, I would be most grateful if you would share the details of this Special Issue with your peers or recommend someone from your network to us.

Prof. Dr. Natalia Kurhaluk
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. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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.

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3724 KiB  
Article
A 30-Min Exposure on Permethrin and Deltamethrin Modifies Ion Transport Pathways in the Skin
by Karolina Szewczyk-Golec, Katarzyna Mądra-Gackowska, Łukasz Szeleszczuk, Jan Szczegielniak and Iga Hołyńska-Iwan
Biomolecules 2024, 14(12), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14121491 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Pyrethroids are pesticides used in agriculture, the textile industry, wood processing, and human and animal medicine. Pyrethroids inhibit voltage-sensitive sodium channels (VSSCs) in insects and mammals. It results in the premature opening and/or delayed closing of the channels, causing a prolonged influx of [...] Read more.
Pyrethroids are pesticides used in agriculture, the textile industry, wood processing, and human and animal medicine. Pyrethroids inhibit voltage-sensitive sodium channels (VSSCs) in insects and mammals. It results in the premature opening and/or delayed closing of the channels, causing a prolonged influx of Na+ ions into the cell. Insects absorb pyrethroids throughout the entire body surface, while poisoning in humans most often occurs by inhalation and through the skin. In this study, 52 fragments of human skin taken from the eyelid fold were examined. A modified Ussing chamber was used to measure the active ion transport in epithelial tissue and quantify the tissue viability and integrity. Both permethrin and deltamethrin solutions induced changes in the transport of ions, mainly sodium, but by different mechanisms. Permethrin affected the transepithelial transport of sodium ions in a long-term mechanism, while deltamethrin affected the ability to respond to stimuli in an immediate mechanism. Contact with deltamethrin may cause a delay/slowness of sensation, inflammation, hypersensitivity, and/or allergy. The action of permethrin takes place in the intercellular spaces and is associated with the possibility of faster decomposition/metabolism, while deltamethrin interacts with receptors, channels, and the cell membrane, which translates into slower decomposition and longer action in the tissue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Diseases Origin and Development)
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Review

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19 pages, 1869 KiB  
Review
Selected Trace Elements and Their Impact on Redox Homeostasis in Eye Health
by Joanna Wróblewska, Jarosław Nuszkiewicz, Marcin Wróblewski, Weronika Wróblewska and Alina Woźniak
Biomolecules 2024, 14(11), 1356; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14111356 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 960
Abstract
Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various ocular degenerative diseases, leading to structural and functional changes in eye tissues. This imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants significantly contributes to conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various ocular degenerative diseases, leading to structural and functional changes in eye tissues. This imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants significantly contributes to conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants are vital for maintaining ocular health by neutralizing ROS and restoring cellular redox balance. Essential trace elements, including iron, zinc, copper, and selenium, are fundamental for the proper functioning of these antioxidant systems. Iron is indispensable for enzymatic activity and cellular energy production, zinc supports numerous proteins involved in visual functions and antioxidant defense, copper is essential for various enzymatic reactions preventing oxidative stress, and selenium is critical for the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). This review summarizes current research on the complex interactions between oxidative stress and trace elements in ocular diseases, highlighting the therapeutic potential of antioxidant supplementation to mitigate oxidative damage and improve eye health. By integrating insights from studies on oxidative stress, trace elements, and eye physiology, this article underscores new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that could lead to more effective prevention and treatment of ocular diseases, aiming to enhance clinical outcomes and guide future research in optimizing therapeutic strategies for eye health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Diseases Origin and Development)
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51 pages, 4725 KiB  
Review
The Influence of Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Ischemic Stroke
by Hanna Pawluk, Agnieszka Tafelska-Kaczmarek, Małgorzata Sopońska, Marta Porzych, Martyna Modrzejewska, Mateusz Pawluk, Natalia Kurhaluk, Halina Tkaczenko and Renata Kołodziejska
Biomolecules 2024, 14(9), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14091130 - 6 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1920
Abstract
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and its incidence is rising rapidly. Acute ischemic stroke is a subtype of stroke that accounts for the majority of stroke cases and has a high mortality rate. An effective treatment for stroke is [...] Read more.
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and its incidence is rising rapidly. Acute ischemic stroke is a subtype of stroke that accounts for the majority of stroke cases and has a high mortality rate. An effective treatment for stroke is to minimize damage to the brain’s neural tissue by restoring blood flow to decreased perfusion areas of the brain. Many reports have concluded that both oxidative stress and excitotoxicity are the main pathological processes associated with ischemic stroke. Current measures to protect the brain against serious damage caused by stroke are insufficient. For this reason, it is important to investigate oxidative and antioxidant strategies to reduce oxidative damage. This review focuses on studies assessing the concentration of oxidative stress biomarkers and the level of antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) and their impact on the clinical prognosis of patients after stroke. Mechanisms related to the production of ROS/RNS and the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke are presented, as well as new therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the effects of ischemia and reperfusion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Diseases Origin and Development)
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17 pages, 1123 KiB  
Review
The Role of the RNA Helicase DDX3X in Medulloblastoma Progression
by Akanksha Swarup and Timothy A. Bolger
Biomolecules 2024, 14(7), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14070803 - 6 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1710
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric brain cancer, with about five cases per million in the pediatric population. Current treatment strategies have a 5-year survival rate of 70% or more but frequently lead to long-term neurocognitive defects, and recurrence is relatively high. Genomic [...] Read more.
Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric brain cancer, with about five cases per million in the pediatric population. Current treatment strategies have a 5-year survival rate of 70% or more but frequently lead to long-term neurocognitive defects, and recurrence is relatively high. Genomic sequencing of medulloblastoma patients has shown that DDX3X, which encodes an RNA helicase involved in the process of translation initiation, is among the most commonly mutated genes in medulloblastoma. The identified mutations are 42 single-point amino acid substitutions and are mostly not complete loss-of-function mutations. The pathological mechanism of DDX3X mutations in the causation of medulloblastoma is poorly understood, but several studies have examined their role in promoting cancer progression. This review first discusses the known roles of DDX3X and its yeast ortholog Ded1 in translation initiation, cellular stress responses, viral replication, innate immunity, inflammatory programmed cell death, Wnt signaling, and brain development. It then examines our current understanding of the oncogenic mechanism of the DDX3X mutations in medulloblastoma, including the effect of these DDX3X mutations on growth, biochemical functions, translation, and stress responses. Further research on DDX3X’s mechanism and targets is required to therapeutically target DDX3X and/or its downstream effects in medulloblastoma progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Diseases Origin and Development)
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25 pages, 2696 KiB  
Review
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Intermediates and Individual Ageing
by Natalia Kurhaluk
Biomolecules 2024, 14(3), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14030260 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3447
Abstract
Anti-ageing biology and medicine programmes are a focus of genetics, molecular biology, immunology, endocrinology, nutrition, and therapy. This paper discusses metabolic therapies aimed at prolonging longevity and/or health. Individual components of these effects are postulated to be related to the energy supply by [...] Read more.
Anti-ageing biology and medicine programmes are a focus of genetics, molecular biology, immunology, endocrinology, nutrition, and therapy. This paper discusses metabolic therapies aimed at prolonging longevity and/or health. Individual components of these effects are postulated to be related to the energy supply by tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and free radical production processes. This article presents several theories of ageing and clinical descriptions of the top markers of ageing, which define ageing in different categories; additionally, their interactions with age-related changes and diseases related to α-ketoglutarate (AKG) and succinate SC formation and metabolism in pathological states are explained. This review describes convincingly the differences in the mitochondrial characteristics of energy metabolism in animals, with different levels (high and low) of physiological reactivity of functional systems related to the state of different regulatory systems providing oxygen-dependent processes. Much attention is given to the crucial role of AKG and SC in the energy metabolism in cells related to amino acid synthesis, epigenetic regulation, cell stemness, and differentiation, as well as metabolism associated with the development of pathological conditions and, in particular, cancer cells. Another goal was to address the issue of ageing in terms of individual characteristics related to physiological reactivity. This review also demonstrated the role of the Krebs cycle as a key component of cellular energy and ageing, which is closely associated with the development of various age-related pathologies, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases where the mTOR pathway plays a key role. This article provides postulates of postischaemic phenomena in an ageing organism and demonstrates the dependence of accelerated ageing and age-related pathology on the levels of AKG and SC in studies on different species (roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, mice, and humans used as models). The findings suggest that this approach may also be useful to show that Krebs cycle metabolites may be involved in age-related abnormalities of the mitochondrial metabolism and may thus induce epigenetic reprogramming that contributes to the senile phenotype and degenerative diseases. The metabolism of these compounds is particularly important when considering ageing mechanisms connected with different levels of initial physiological reactivity and able to initiate individual programmed ageing, depending on the intensity of oxygen consumption, metabolic peculiarities, and behavioural reactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Aspects of Diseases Origin and Development)
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