Unravelling the Intricate Link Between Microvascular Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease
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: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1252
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Microvascular dysfunction is a key factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), contributing to heart failure, major adverse cardiovascular events, and increased cardiovascular mortality. The microvasculature, composed of small resistance arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and venules, plays an essential role in regulating perfusion, fluid and solute exchange, haemostasis, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Dysfunction in these vessels, characterized by structural and/or functional alterations, leads to impaired tissue perfusion and target organ damage.
Recent advances in research have unveiled the molecular mechanisms underlying microvascular dysfunction, highlighting the pivotal roles of endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, VEGF dysregulation, and endothelin-1 overactivity. These processes are further implicated in conditions such as diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and aortic valve stenosis. Notably, microvascular dysfunction often precedes the onset of diastolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Building on these insights, innovative pharmacological strategies to restore microvascular health are highly needed. Potential therapies can include NO donors, endothelin receptor antagonists, VEGF modulators, mitochondrial-targeted agents, and other new therapies. Anti-inflammatory treatments and advanced glycation end-product (AGE) inhibitors are also being investigated to mitigate oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. These advances (including but not limited to them) emphasize the potential of mechanism-specific interventions to improve microvascular function, prevent disease progression, and enhance cardiovascular outcomes.
The understanding of the molecular basis of microvascular dysfunction has paved the way for promising and innovative pharmacological therapeutic avenues. Targeting these pathways offers significant opportunities with which to address cardiovascular diseases at their roots, making microcirculation a critical focus for future research and treatment strategies.
This Special Issue focuses on the latest molecular insights into microvascular dysfunction and its pivotal role in cardiovascular pathogenesis. It aims to achieve the following:
- Explore the molecular mechanisms driving microvascular dysfunction.
- Highlight its implications in various systemic conditions, including diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
- Novel and innovative therapeutic strategies, such as NO donors, VEGF modulators, endothelin receptor antagonists, mitochondrial-targeted agents, anti-inflammatory therapies, AGE inhibitors, and other new therapies.
- Discuss innovative approaches for restoring microvascular health and preventing disease progression.
- Foster multidisciplinary research to identify mechanism-specific interventions that improve cardiovascular outcomes.
This Special Issue serves as a platform with which to integrate fundamental discoveries with translational research, emphasizing microcirculation as a critical target for future cardiovascular therapies.
Dr. Róbert Pórszász
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 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. 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
- microvascular dysfunction
- cardiovascular pathogenesis
- endothelial dysfunction
- oxidative stress
- nitric oxide bioavailability
- VEGF dysregulation
- endothelin-1 overactivity
- heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
- pharmacological interventions
- microcirculation-targeted therapies
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
