Metal Ions in Health and Disease

Dear Colleagues,

A plethora of metal ions exists in abiotic and biological systems, with prevalent cases involving essential inorganic cofactors in well-defined complex forms that are present in proteins and enzymes in humans. Such relevant human systems exhibit specificity with respect to the function and sustainability of physiology in cellular tissues and sensitive loci of the human body (e.g., the brain liver, pancreas, and other organs). Environmental pressure, originating from the exposure of humans to high concentrations of exogenous metal ions (including known environmental metallotoxins), formulates internal fluid and organ conditions that (a) promote aberrant interactions with (sub)cellular molecular targets and (b) lead to symptomatic pathologies (such as neurodegeneration and neoplasias). The impact of such metal ions on phenotypic changes is intimately associated with interactions involving low- and high-molecular-mass substrates, as well as targets at the protein and genomic levels. These types of interactions constitute the crux of the present effort to organize, evaluate, and collectively configure scientific knowledge geared toward providing insight into neurodegenerative and neoplastic molecular processes. Based on the premise that a select concentration of scientific advancements in this interdisciplinary field is anticipated to trigger further discussion, addressing metal ion biotoxicity and involvement in pathogenic pathways, diagnostics, and therapeutics, the herein announced Special Issue solicits aspiring contributions in chemistry, biology, medicine, and the interface of these fields, focusing on metal ions in neurodegenerative and/or neoplastic processes.

Prof. Dr. Athanasios Salifoglou
Guest Editor

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