The Epigenetic Landscape of Aging: Mechanisms and Impacts During Cellular and Organismal Longevity

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Aging".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 386

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
Interests: bone biology; osteoporosis; osteoarthritis; hematopoiesis; neutrophil; bioengineering; tissue engineering; crosstalk; cell death; liver biology; sports medicine; orthopedics

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Guest Editor
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Interests: brain tumor; cell biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aging process is influenced by a complex network of epigenetic modifications that regulate gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. These epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA activity, are essential in determining cellular function during aging. As the organism ages, epigenetic dysregulation contributes to the decline in cellular homeostasis and tissue function, ultimately leading to age-related diseases like malignancies, cardiovascular diseases, and degenerative diseases in organs like the brain and bone. Understanding the mechanisms driving these epigenetic alterations is crucial for developing interventions that may promote healthy aging.

This Special Issue will explore topics such as age-related changes in epigenetic patterns, the role of epigenetics in cellular senescence, the impact of environmental factors on epigenetic aging, and potential therapeutic strategies targeting the epigenome. Contributions addressing both in vitro models and in vivo studies, along with bioinformatics approaches to aging epigenetics, are encouraged to provide a comprehensive understanding of the epigenetic landscape of aging.

Dr. Siyu Shen
Dr. Dazhuan Xin
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • epigenetic regulation
  • cellular senescence
  • aging
  • DNA methylation
  • histone modification
  • non-coding RNA
  • cancer epigenetics
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • musculoskeletal degenerative disorders
  • cardiovascular diseases

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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21 pages, 643 KiB  
Systematic Review
Role of microRNAs in Osteosarcopenic Obesity/Adiposity: A Scoping Review
by Mariantonia Braile, Adriano Braile, Chiara Greggi, Virginia Veronica Visconti, Giuseppe Toro, Maria Consiglia Trotta, Gianluca Conza and Umberto Tarantino
Cells 2025, 14(11), 802; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14110802 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2025
Abstract
Background: Osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) syndrome, also defined as osteosarcopenic adiposity (OSA), is characterized by the concurrent loss of bone and muscle mass, accompanied by excess fat, leading to reduced functionality and metabolic imbalances. Recent studies have highlighted the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in [...] Read more.
Background: Osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) syndrome, also defined as osteosarcopenic adiposity (OSA), is characterized by the concurrent loss of bone and muscle mass, accompanied by excess fat, leading to reduced functionality and metabolic imbalances. Recent studies have highlighted the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathophysiology of OSO/OSA, showing differential expression in individuals with osteosarcopenia and obesity. However, a thorough investigation in this area has been limited. Methods: A comprehensive search of international bibliographic databases, including Embase, PubMed and Scopus, was conducted. Results: From an initial search yielding 1311 records, 19 studies met the eligibility criteria for final evaluation. These findings highlight how physical exercise and nutritional factors can influence miRNA expression, emphasizing their role in promoting better health outcomes in aging populations. Furthermore, the critical role of miRNAs as indicators of muscle atrophy and the biological processes associated with aging and sarcopenia have been documented in various animal studies. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of this review, the findings indicate that miRNAs could serve as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for managing OSO/OSA. These results suggest that targeted interventions, such as resistance training and lifelong exercise, may effectively influence miRNA expression, potentially alleviating the impacts of OSO/OSA. Full article
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