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Molecular Endocrine Regulation in Health and Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 151

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
Interests: endocrinology; hypertension; genomics and precision medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The exposome—the totality of environmental exposures from conception onward—plays a critical role in endocrine health and disease. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), found in household products, plastics, air pollutants, food packaging, and water sources, interfere with hormonal signaling, leading to metabolic disorders, reproductive dysfunction, thyroid imbalances, and neurodevelopmental conditions. These exposures are particularly concerning due to their cumulative effects over a lifetime, their transgenerational impact, and their potential to exacerbate chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and hormone-dependent cancers.

This Special Issue will explore the molecular mechanisms by which EDCs and other environmental contaminants disrupt endocrine function, highlighting key pathways such as nuclear receptor signaling, epigenetic modifications, oxidative stress, and gut microbiome interactions. Additionally, we welcome research on advanced biomonitoring techniques, risk assessment models, and public health interventions aimed at mitigating exposure.

We invite original research, reviews, and perspectives from diverse fields, including molecular endocrinology, toxicology, environmental health sciences, and systems biology, to deepen our understanding of how the exposome shapes endocrine health across the lifespan.

Dr. Fady Hannah-Shmouni
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • exposome and endocrine disruptors
  • endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
  • environmental toxicology and hormonal health
  • epigenetics and endocrine function
  • endocrine regulation and chronic disease
  • public health and exposure mitigation
  • endocrine disruptors in the home and community

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

33 pages, 1438 KiB  
Review
Systems and Molecular Biology of Longevity and Preventive Medicine: Brain-Energy–Microbiome–Exposome Synergies in Blue Zones and the Cilento Case
by Silvana Mirella Aliberti, Mario Capunzo and Richard H. W. Funk
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7887; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167887 - 15 Aug 2025
Viewed by 37
Abstract
Longevity and healthy aging result from the complex interaction of genetic, epigenetic, microbial, behavioral, and environmental factors. The central nervous system—particularly the cerebral cortex—and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) play key roles in integrating external and internal signals, shaping energy metabolism, immune tone, [...] Read more.
Longevity and healthy aging result from the complex interaction of genetic, epigenetic, microbial, behavioral, and environmental factors. The central nervous system—particularly the cerebral cortex—and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) play key roles in integrating external and internal signals, shaping energy metabolism, immune tone, and emotional regulation. This narrative review examines how the brain–ANS axis interacts with epigenetic regulation, telomere dynamics, the gut microbiome, and the exposome to influence biological aging and resilience. Relevant literature published between 2010 and 2025 was selected through comprehensive database searches (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar), with a focus on studies addressing the multisystemic determinants of aging. Emphasis is placed on lifestyle-related exposures, such as diet, physical activity, psychosocial support, and environmental quality, that modulate systemic physiology through neurovisceral pathways. Drawing on empirical findings from classical Blue Zones and recent observational research in the Cilento region of southern Italy, this review highlights how context-specific factors—such as clean air, mineral-rich water, Mediterranean dietary patterns, and strong social cohesion—may foster bioelectric, metabolic, and neuroimmune homeostasis. By integrating data from neuroscience, systems biology, and environmental epidemiology, the review proposes a comprehensive model for understanding healthy longevity and supports the development of personalized, context-sensitive strategies in geroscience and preventive medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Endocrine Regulation in Health and Diseases)
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