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Molecular Research in Airway Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 656

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Palermo, Italy
Interests: airway diseases; immunopharmacology; molecular mechanisms; cellular models; air pollution; cigarette smoke
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Airway diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis represent a growing global health burden, characterized by chronic inflammation, tissue remodelling, and progressive functional impairment. Despite advances in clinical management, a deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning these disorders remains essential for the development of personalized and disease-modifying therapies.

This Special Issue, “Molecular Research in Airway Diseases”, aims to highlight recent breakthroughs in the molecular and translational investigation of airway pathophysiology. We welcome original research articles and reviews exploring signalling pathways, epigenetic regulation, oxidative stress, immune responses, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, as well as studies employing advanced in vitro and ex vivo models, organoids, omics technologies, and systems biology.

Special focus will be placed on the identification of novel molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets, with the goal of accelerating the implementation of precision medicine in respiratory care. Contributions addressing the impact of environmental exposures, microbiota, and viral infections on airway molecular homeostasis are particularly encouraged.

Through this collection, we seek to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and stimulate the integration of molecular insights into clinical strategies for the effective diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of airway diseases.

Dr. Valentina Lazzara is the Guest Editor Assistant, who will help manage this Special Issue.

Dr. Giusy Daniela Albano
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • airway diseases
  • inflammation
  • immunopharmacology
  • cellular models
  • biomarkers
  • precision medicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

33 pages, 1345 KB  
Review
Unmasking Pediatric Asthma: Epigenetic Fingerprints and Markers of Respiratory Infections
by Alessandra Pandolfo, Rosalia Paola Gagliardo, Valentina Lazzara, Andrea Perri, Velia Malizia, Giuliana Ferrante, Amelia Licari, Stefania La Grutta and Giusy Daniela Albano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7629; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157629 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 449
Abstract
Pediatric asthma is a multifactorial and heterogeneous disease determined by the dynamic interplay of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and immune dysregulation. Recent advances have highlighted the pivotal role of epigenetic mechanisms, in particular, DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, in the regulation [...] Read more.
Pediatric asthma is a multifactorial and heterogeneous disease determined by the dynamic interplay of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and immune dysregulation. Recent advances have highlighted the pivotal role of epigenetic mechanisms, in particular, DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, in the regulation of inflammatory pathways contributing to asthma phenotypes and endotypes. This review examines the role of respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus (RV), and other bacterial and fungal infections that are mediators of infection-induced epithelial inflammation that drive epithelial homeostatic imbalance and induce persistent epigenetic alterations. These alterations lead to immune dysregulation, remodeling of the airways, and resistance to corticosteroids. A focused analysis of T2-high and T2-low asthma endotypes highlights unique epigenetic landscapes directing cytokines and cellular recruitment and thereby supports phenotype-specific aspects of disease pathogenesis. Additionally, this review also considers the role of miRNAs in the control of post-transcriptional networks that are pivotal in asthma exacerbation and the severity of the disease. We discuss novel and emerging epigenetic therapies, such as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, miRNA-based treatments, and immunomodulatory probiotics, that are in preclinical or early clinical development and may support precision medicine in asthma. Collectively, the current findings highlight the translational relevance of including pathogen-related biomarkers and epigenomic data for stratifying pediatric asthma patients and for the personalization of therapeutic regimens. Epigenetic dysregulation has emerged as a novel and potentially transformative approach for mitigating chronic inflammation and long-term morbidity in children with asthma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Airway Diseases)
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