Pathogenic Mechanisms Involved in Development and Progression of ROS-Associated Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are fundamental regulators of cellular physiology, acting as both signaling molecules and drivers of oxidative damage. When tightly controlled, ROS contribute to essential biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and defense responses. However, excessive or dysregulated ROS production disrupts redox balance and triggers oxidative stress, leading to molecular and cellular dysfunction. These processes underlie the onset and progression of a wide range of diseases across species, from neurodegeneration and cardiovascular disorders to metabolic syndromes and chronic inflammation.

This Special Issue seeks to advance our understanding of the basic biological mechanisms through which ROS contribute to disease development and progression. We welcome studies that explore molecular signaling pathways, redox regulation, oxidative modifications of biomolecules, mitochondrial biology, and comparative insights between human and animal models. Manuscripts with a focus on clinical or therapeutic aspects will not be considered, in line with the journal’s scope. Our goal is to bring together cutting-edge basic research that will provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of ROS-associated pathogenesis and inspire future directions in the field.

Background and history of this topic:

Aim and scope of the Special Issue: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are central regulators of both physiological and pathological processes. At controlled levels, ROS function as essential signaling molecules; however, excessive or dysregulated ROS production triggers oxidative stress, causing irreversible cellular and tissue damage. This imbalance is a major driver in the development and progression of a wide spectrum of diseases affecting both humans and animals, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, inflammatory conditions, and immune-mediated disorders.

This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms by which ROS contribute to disease onset and progression across species. We encourage submissions that provide novel insights into molecular and cellular pathways, translational and comparative studies bridging human and animal health. Interdisciplinary contributions from biochemistry, molecular biology, veterinary medicine and pharmacology are welcome.

Cutting-edge research:

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Molecular and cellular mechanisms of ROS-mediated pathogenesis in human and animal diseases
• Comparative studies on oxidative stress across species (One Health perspective)
• Mitochondrial dysfunction, redox imbalance, and disease progression
• Genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic regulation under oxidative stress
• ROS-mediated chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation
• Tumorigenesis and tumor microenvironment remodeling by ROS
• Cross-talk between ROS and other reactive species (RNS, RSS)
• Oxidative damage to biomolecules and its role in disease biomarkers
• Advanced tools and methods for ROS detection and quantification
• Novel antioxidants and redox modulators for ROS-driven diseases
• Translational studies targeting ROS in both human and veterinary medicine

What kind of papers we are soliciting:

Manuscripts should be original and not previously published or under consideration elsewhere. Both original research articles and comprehensive reviews are welcome. All submissions will undergo rigorous peer review.

Dr. Hye-Jin Park
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. Biology 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.

• Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
• oxidative stress
• pathogenic mechanisms
• disease progression
• mitochondrial dysfunction
• inflammation and immune regulation
• redox biology
• molecular signaling pathways
• antioxidants and therapeutics
• comparative medicine
• One Health
• translational research