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 701
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
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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
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