Functions and Mechanisms of Protective Biomolecules in Metabolic Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 1333

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute Ruder Boskovic, Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: trefoil family peptides (Tffs); gut-liver-brain axis; animal model of Tff3 deficiency; metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: mass spectrometry; proteomics; metabolomics; omics data integration; metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolic diseases pose a major and escalating burden on global public health. Besides diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and atherosclerosis, recent data underline cancer as a metabolic mitochondrial disease, urging a reconsideration of treatment options.

Systemic metabolic homeostasis begins with proper nourishment and function of the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Dysregulation of GI function leads to a vicious cycle of disruptions in cellular and systemic metabolic homeostasis, resulting in severe complications and increased morbidity.

In recent years, research has increasingly focused on the role of endogenous protective biomolecules—including adipokines, hepatokines, myokines, and various bioactive lipids and peptides—that can counteract metabolic stress, inflammation, and cellular damage.

Understanding the precise functions and underlying mechanisms of these molecules, such as their involvement in insulin sensitisation, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial function, opens promising avenues for therapeutic intervention.

This Special Issue invites original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore the identification, regulation, and mechanistic actions of protective biomolecules in different metabolic diseases. Contributions highlighting novel signalling pathways, their roles in inter-organ communication, or translational potential as biomarkers or therapeutic targets are particularly encouraged. 

Dr. Mirela Baus Lončar
Dr. Anita Horvatić
Dr. Mirela Sedić
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • protective biomolecules
  • metabolic homeostasis
  • insulin resistance
  • cancer metabolism

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 4384 KB  
Article
Study on the Mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides for Ameliorating Dyslipidemia via Regulating Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolites
by Wenshuai Wang, Rui Sun, Jianjun Zhang, Le Jia and Yuanjun Dong
Biomolecules 2026, 16(1), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010153 - 14 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 915
Abstract
In today’s world, unhealthy living habits have contributed to the rise in metabolic disorders like hyperlipidemia. Recognized as a popular edible and medicinal mushroom in China and various eastern nations, Ganoderma lucidum is a promising high-value functional and medicinal food with multiple biological [...] Read more.
In today’s world, unhealthy living habits have contributed to the rise in metabolic disorders like hyperlipidemia. Recognized as a popular edible and medicinal mushroom in China and various eastern nations, Ganoderma lucidum is a promising high-value functional and medicinal food with multiple biological activities. Our earlier research has demonstrated that G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) showed distinct lipid-lowering abilities by enhancing the response to oxidative stress and inflammation, adjusting bile acid production and lipid regulation factors, and facilitating reverse cholesterol transport through Nrf2-Keap1, NF-κB, LXRα-ABCA1/ABCG1, CYP7A1-CYP27A1, and FXR-FGF15 pathways, hence we delved deeper into the effects of GLP on hyperlipidemia, focusing on its structural characterization, gut microbiota, and fecal metabolites. Our findings showed that GLP changed the composition and structure of gut microbiota, and 10 key biomarker strains screened by LEfSe analysis markedly increased the abundance of energy metabolism, and cell growth and death pathways which were found by PICRUSt2. In addition, GLP intervention significantly altered the fecal metabolites, which enriched in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism pathways. The results of structural characterization showed that GLP, with the molecular weight of 12.53 kDa, consisted of pyranose rings and was linked by α-type and β-type glycosidic bonds, and its overall morphology appeared as an irregular flaky structure with some flecks and holes in the surface. Collectively, our study highlighted that the protective effects of GLP were closely associated with the modification of gut microbiota and the regulation of metabolites profiles, thus ameliorating dyslipidemia. Full article
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