pH Sensing, Signalling, and Regulation in Cellular Processes 

Dear Colleagues,

The proton concentrations in extracellular and intracellular compartments are tightly regulated to maintain the overall extra- and intracellular pH within a range that is conducive to proper protein, and therefore cell, function. However, the intra- and extracellular pH can fluctuate both acutely and chronically (e.g., during neuronal activity), and the extracellular pH in some tissues can be significantly more acidic than in others to support physiological processes (e.g., the olfactory epithelium and epididymis), suggesting that protons may also have signaling functions beyond their impact on protein function and membrane potential. Critically, changes in pH regulation and, hence, the signaling activity of pH-sensing receptors accompany healthy aging, as well as virtually all pathologies, ranging from cancer and inflammatory diseases to traumatic injuries and stroke. Importantly, it is thought that altered pH signaling does not simply accompany disease progression but actually facilitates it. Hence, pH sensors likely play a crucial role both in physiological processes (including aging) and pathology development. A better understanding of pH-dependent receptors and signaling cascades would aid our understanding of these processes and facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic strategies and targets.

The goal of this Special Issue is to provide an overview of the plethora of processes involving pH-sensing receptors, as well as the receptors themselves, ranging from ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors to inflammatory processes and malignant transformation in cells, tissues, and whole animals. This will provide an exciting insight into the diversity of processes that pH and changes in pH can accompany and trigger.

Prof. Dr. Maike Glitsch
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.