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Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Advances in Atherosclerosis

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: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 4648

Editor

Vascular Biology Program, Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Interests: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH); atherosclerosis; diabetes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atherosclerosis remains a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide, driven by complex interactions among lipid metabolism, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and genetic factors. Rapid advances in molecular biology, multi-omics technologies, and targeted therapeutics are transforming our understanding of atherogenesis and enabling the development of more precise diagnostic and treatment strategies.

This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research elucidating the molecular mechanisms that initiate and propagate atherosclerotic disease, as well as emerging therapeutic approaches designed to halt or reverse its progression. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that advance current knowledge and foster innovation in translational and clinical applications.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying plaque formation, progression, and instability;
  • Lipid metabolism, lipoprotein biology, and regulatory pathways;
  • Inflammatory and immune signaling in vascular pathology;
  • Endothelial and smooth muscle cell biology;
  • Novel biomarkers and diagnostic strategies;
  • Gene- and RNA-based therapeutics, nanoparticle delivery systems, and targeted interventions;
  • Preclinical models and translational studies;
  • Systems biology, multi-omics, and computational approaches in atherosclerosis.

This Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for advancing molecular insights and accelerating therapeutic breakthroughs in atherosclerosis.

Dr. Zhu Bo
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-anonymized 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

  • atherosclerosis
  • molecular mechanisms
  • lipid metabolism
  • inflammation
  • endothelial dysfunction
  • RNA therapeutics
  • nanomedicine
  • cardiovascular disease
  • biomarkers
  • translational medicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

24 pages, 3255 KB  
Review
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Atherosclerosis and Current Advances in Targeted Therapeutics
by Bo Zhu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27020634 - 8 Jan 2026
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4235
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic, multifactorial vascular disease and the leading global cause of cardiovascular morbidity. Its development reflects interconnected disturbances in lipid metabolism, endothelial function, inflammation, smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic switching, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Genetic predisposition, including monogenic disorders such as [...] Read more.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic, multifactorial vascular disease and the leading global cause of cardiovascular morbidity. Its development reflects interconnected disturbances in lipid metabolism, endothelial function, inflammation, smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic switching, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Genetic predisposition, including monogenic disorders such as familial hypercholesterolemia and polygenic risk variants, modulates disease susceptibility by altering lipid homeostasis as well as inflammatory and thrombotic pathways. Epigenetic regulators and noncoding RNAs, such as histone modifications, microRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs, further shape gene expression and link environmental cues to vascular pathology. Endothelial injury promotes lipoprotein retention and oxidation, triggering monocyte recruitment and macrophage-driven foam cell formation, cytokine secretion, and necrotic core development. Persistent inflammation, macrophage heterogeneity, and SMC plasticity collectively drive plaque growth and destabilization. Emerging insights into immune cell metabolism, intracellular signaling networks, and novel regulatory RNAs are expanding therapeutic possibilities beyond lipid-lowering. Current and evolving treatments include statins, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, anti-inflammatory agents targeting interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) or NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), and advanced approaches such as gene editing, siRNA, and nanoparticle-based delivery. Integrating multi-omics, biomarker-guided therapy, and precision medicine promises improved risk stratification and next-generation targeted interventions. This review summarizes recent molecular advances and highlights translational opportunities for enhancing atherosclerosis prevention and treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Advances in Atherosclerosis)
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