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New Perspectives in Cardiovascular Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Innovations

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Guest Editor
Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Interests: antioxidants; diabetes; cardiovascular diseases; nephropathy; prognosis; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, encompassing a wide spectrum of disorders such as ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Recent advances in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and precision medicine have provided new insights into the underlying mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and regulatory non-coding RNAs. These discoveries have not only expanded our understanding of disease pathophysiology but also created opportunities for developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue aims to bridge basic molecular discoveries and clinical applications in cardiovascular medicine. Consistent with the scope of IJMS, this issue focuses on mechanistic and translational research that elucidates disease pathways and fosters clinical innovation. By collecting at least ten high-quality articles, this issue aims to highlight cutting-edge findings that can shape future preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches. If the collection reaches this goal, the Special Issue may also be published as a book.

The submission of both original research articles and reviews is welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

  1. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases;
  2. Regulatory RNAs and epigenetic modulation in cardiac disorders;
  3. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic remodeling;
  4. Translational innovations in arrhythmia and heart failure management;
  5. Novel biomarkers and pharmacologic or digital interventions for precision cardiology.

Dr. Yunglung Chen
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.

Keywords

  • cardiovascular disease
  • molecular mechanisms
  • biomarkers
  • atrial fibrillation
  • translational medicine

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 8847 KB  
Article
Integrative Analysis of VSMC, Macrophage, and Fibroblast Responses to LDLs in Aortic Pathologies
by Ulyana Khovantseva, Diana Kiseleva, Vadim Cherednichenko, Denis Breshenkov, Diana Matveeva, Tatiana Kirichenko, Yuliya Markina, Eduard Charchyan and Alexander Markin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(5), 2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27052443 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, with aortic pathologies such as atherosclerosis and thoracic aortic aneurysm posing significant risks due to their asymptomatic nature and potential fatal complications. This study investigates molecular mechanisms underlying CVDs by examining key cellular [...] Read more.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, with aortic pathologies such as atherosclerosis and thoracic aortic aneurysm posing significant risks due to their asymptomatic nature and potential fatal complications. This study investigates molecular mechanisms underlying CVDs by examining key cellular components of the aortic wall—vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), fibroblasts, and macrophages—and their responses to low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Using in vitro models, we analyzed phenotypic characteristics, LDL internalization capacity, and secretion/expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, CCL2) in primary VSMCs (from tunica intima and media), fibroblasts (977hTERT), and THP-1 macrophages. Fluorescence staining with BDP 630/650 revealed that all cell types internalize LDLs, with macrophages showing the highest lipid accumulation. ELISA and RT-qPCR demonstrated cell-specific patterns of cytokine secretion and gene expression, both in control conditions and after LDL exposure. The results indicate that VSMCs and fibroblasts, normally involved in vascular tone maintenance and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, acquire pro-inflammatory features under pathological conditions, including increased secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and CCL2. Macrophages exhibited enhanced expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (especially IL-1β) after LDL treatment. Full article
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