Recent Advances in Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Human Diseases 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

Cell energy metabolism, the biochemical process responsible for ATP synthesis linked to NAD(P)H turnover, implies the occurrence of oxidative and reductive processes for metabolic energy recruitment and management. Most cell ATP is produced via mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos), whose efficacy depends on mitochondria networks and ER–mitochondria interactions.

Recent studies have shown that the impairment of structural and functional interactions between ER and mitochondria, in addition to the  alteration of the mitochondrial network, affects cell physiology, resulting in the hyperproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative damage. Although mitochondria represent the center of energy production, they also constitute the principal intracellular sources of ROS. This “double-edged role” configures mitochondria as the organelles in which the energy metabolism encounters redox homeostasis. Indeed, energy metabolism and redox state are inextricably linked in the coordinated regulation of (i) metabolic pathways, (ii) antioxidant systems, (iii) mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics, and (iv) autophagy and mitophagy. Alterations of the crosstalk between redox homeostasis and cellular metabolism are hallmarks of a wide variety of disease processes. For example, in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, oxidative stress has been identified as a key player associated with defects in mitochondrial function, dynamics, and/or degradation. Cardiovascular diseases also exhibit a strong connection with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysregulation. Metabolic reprogramming of most core metabolic pathways, including those of glucose, glutamine, amino acids, and lipids, as well as increased antioxidant activity, are hallmarks of cancer cells in the various stages of the disease. Moreover, the tumor microenvironment (TME) represents a determinant metabolic barrier that affects T-cell anti-tumor activity. Indeed, the metabolic and nutrient competition in TME implies a metabolic reprogramming of T cells, rendering them dysfunctional and configuring this metabolic switch as a target in order to enhance T-cell-mediated immunity against cancer cells. Notably, recent evidence highlights the connection between ER stress response, oxidative stress, and inflammation in various diseases, emphasizing their roles in immunity and inflammatory/metabolic functions. Understanding the mechanisms and actors involved in the intricate crosstalk between energy metabolism and redox state has the potential to help to identify new therapeutic targets. 

This Special Issue, entitled “Recent Advances in Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Human Diseases 2.0”, invites original research and review articles to contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive metabolic reprogramming, including the metabolic function, biology and redox homeostasis that lead to the development of effective treatments for different diseases.

Prof. Dr. Isabella Panfoli
Dr. Vanessa Cossu
Guest Editors

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. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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.

• antioxidant responses
• redox balance
• ROS
• hematologic oncology
• solid tumors
• immune response
• ATP
• cancer cells
• mitochondria-ER interactions
• endoplasmic reticulum
• glucose metabolism
• inflammation
• mitochondria
• mitochondrial dynamics
• autophagy
• mitophagy
• metabolic plasticity
• metabolism

• Recent Advances in Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Human Diseases in Cells (10 articles)