Harnessing Redox Status and Novel Molecular Signals and Targets Involved in Oxidative Stress to Afford Cardioprotection: From Experimental Insights to Clinical Applications

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2951

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Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
Interests: cardioprotection; myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury; cardiotoxicity; hypertension; cardiometabolic syndrome; intracellular signaling; chromogranins; selenoproteins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Interests: cardiovascular physiology; cardiovascular pathophysiology; cardiovascular pharmacology; laboratory medicine; cardiac function; myocardial ischemia; myocardial ischemia-reperfusion; cardioprotection; myocardial pre-post conditioning; hypertension; obesity; heart failure; cardiotoxicity; chemotherapeutic drugs; adrenergic stimulation; biomarkers; intracellular signaling; oxidative stress; mitochondrial dysfunction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Interests: cardiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) play crucial roles as messengers in numerous biological processes. They are involved in regulating various redox-sensitive signaling pathways and organ functions, including cardiovascular regulation. The preservation of the nitroso/redox balance in the heart is maintained by major endogenous antioxidant systems that finely control ROS and RNS levels to prevent their accumulation. Additionally, within the vasculature, ROS and RNS are intricately involved in regulating several vascular processes, such as endothelial and smooth muscle cell function, angiogenesis, and vascular tone. However, the inefficient removal of these reactive species can disrupt normal redox signaling pathways, leading to cardiovascular oxidative stress. While there are various causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD), oxidative stress is a common pathological factor in most cases. It can alter myocardial calcium and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, induce inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, cause arrhythmia, and contribute to adverse cardiac remodeling by promoting hypertrophy and cell death. Oxidative stress not only affects the myocardium, correlating with left ventricular dysfunction, but also promotes endothelial dysfunction and the progression of atherosclerosis. Although several cardioprotective approaches targeting oxidative stress—such as the administration of exogenous antioxidants, stimulation of key endogenous antioxidant systems, and inhibition of pro-oxidant pathways—have shown potential benefits in pre-clinical and small clinical studies, there is still significant discrepancy in the results from most short- and long-term clinical trials. As a result, much remains unknown about the complex network of interconnected pathways that govern redox status in the cardiovascular system and the actions of endogenous and exogenous antioxidants in providing cardioprotection.

This Special Issue aims to explore the impact of redox status and oxidative stress, along with potential therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular disease, including but not limited to coronary heart disease, myocardial ischemia, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, hypertension, stroke, and heart failure. We welcome pre-clinical (in vivo, ex vivo, in vitro, and in silico), translational, and clinical studies, as well as critical review articles. Through this invitation, we hope to further elucidate the role of oxidative stress in the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases and enhance our understanding of the experimental and clinical factors contributing to the discrepancies observed in antioxidant therapies for the treatment and prevention of CVD.

Prof. Dr. Tommaso Angelone
Dr. Carmine Rocca
Dr. Anna De Bartolo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • oxidative stress
  • redox signaling
  • cardioprotection
  • antioxidants
  • heart disease
  • vascular dysfunction
  • molecular targets
  • therapeutic approaches

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2376 KiB  
Article
Myocardial DYRK1B Expression Is Increased in Patients with Impaired Cardiac Contractility and Sleep-Disordered Breathing
by Fatma Bayram, Philipp Hegner, Anna-Maria Lauerer, Sönke Schildt, Dominik Wermers, Maria Johanna Baier, Julian Mustroph, Maria Tafelmeier, Zdenek Provaznik, Christof Schmid, Lars Siegfried Maier, Stefan Wagner, Michael Arzt and Simon Lebek
Antioxidants 2025, 14(2), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14020163 - 29 Jan 2025
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Abstract
Heart failure and cardiovascular disease represent a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Recent evidence associates an increased expression of the dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1B (DYRK1B) with an impaired cardiac function in mice. However, there remains a paucity of data on myocardial [...] Read more.
Heart failure and cardiovascular disease represent a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Recent evidence associates an increased expression of the dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1B (DYRK1B) with an impaired cardiac function in mice. However, there remains a paucity of data on myocardial DYRK1B expression in patients with cardiovascular disease in the context of other comorbidities. In our study, we examined DYRK1B mRNA expression in human right atrial appendage biopsies from 159 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery. Each patient was tested for sleep-disordered breathing the night prior to surgery. In this large representative study cohort with cardiovascular high-risk patients, we found that an impaired cardiac function as well as sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including various oxidative stress parameters, were associated with an increased myocardial DYRK1B expression. A multivariate regression analysis revealed left ventricular ejection fraction and the presence of SDB as significant predictors of the myocardial DYRK1B expression independent of other clinical covariates. Based on these findings, DYRK1B represents a promising molecular target in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction as well in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. Full article
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35 pages, 1300 KiB  
Review
Deciphering Oxidative Stress in Cardiovascular Disease Progression: A Blueprint for Mechanistic Understanding and Therapeutic Innovation
by Zhaoshan Zhang and Jiawei Guo
Antioxidants 2025, 14(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14010038 - 31 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1407
Abstract
Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This review focuses on the signaling pathways of oxidative stress during the development of CVDs, delving into the molecular regulatory networks underlying oxidative stress in various disease stages, [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This review focuses on the signaling pathways of oxidative stress during the development of CVDs, delving into the molecular regulatory networks underlying oxidative stress in various disease stages, particularly apoptosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolic imbalance. By examining the dual roles of oxidative stress and the influences of sex differences on oxidative stress levels and cardiovascular disease susceptibility, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The study integrates key findings from current research in three comprehensive ways. First, it outlines the major CVDs associated with oxidative stress and their respective signaling pathways, emphasizing oxidative stress’s central role in cardiovascular pathology. Second, it summarizes the cardiovascular protective effects, mechanisms of action, and animal models of various antioxidants, offering insights into future drug development. Third, it discusses the applications, advantages, limitations, and potential molecular targets of gene therapy in CVDs, providing a foundation for novel therapeutic strategies. These tables underscore the systematic and integrative nature of this study while offering a theoretical basis for precision treatment for CVDs. A major contribution of this study is the systematic review of the differential effects of oxidative stress across different stages of CVDs, in addition to the proposal of innovative, multi-level intervention strategies, which open new avenues for precision treatment of the cardiovascular system. Full article
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