Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Apoptosis and Aging Complexes
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 22
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cell biology; antioxidants; transmembrane signalisation; actin cytoskeleton; anti-tumor therapy; cytotoxicity; apoptosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Aging is generally defined as a gradual decline in cellular function. Over time, cellular damage accumulates due to DNA mutations and misfolded proteins. This damage impacts the function of organelles and the body as a whole. Consequently, homeostatic processes may become disrupted, and the body's regenerative abilities can diminish. Thus, the aging process—characterized by the accumulation of molecular damage, low-grade inflammation, altered intercellular and intertissue communication, changes in the epigenetic landscape, dysregulation of gene expression, and altered endocrine communication—is the primary risk factor for age-related diseases and multimorbidity. An essential feature of aging is the misregulation of apoptosis. Typically, apoptosis is a homeostatic process that reduces proliferation and prevents the propagation of damaged cells, emphasizing its critical physiological role during development. During the early and reproductive stages of life, apoptosis serves as an effective mechanism of tumor suppression but can become detrimental, promoting aging later on.
Essentially, apoptosis can be involved in aging and age-related diseases, functioning in a cell-type-specific manner. Aging-associated disruptions in overall cellular signaling, combined with cell damage and mitochondrial dysfunction, lead to increased apoptosis in some cell types while decreasing it in others. Increased apoptosis during aging is typically linked to declines in the immune system, loss of cardiac cells, and neurodegenerative diseases. Conversely, cancerous and senescent cells resist apoptosis, enabling their proliferation during aging. This complex interplay highlights the importance of understanding apoptosis in the context of aging and disease.
This Special Issue invites original articles and reviews. It aims to provide IJMS readers with an explanation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of apoptosis and aging complexes, as well as their relationships to various pathological processes, to develop new research approaches and therapeutic strategies.
Prof. Dr. Rumiana Tzoneva
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- cell biology
- antioxidants
- transmembrane signalisation
- actin cytoskeleton
- anti-tumor therapy
- cytotoxicity
- apoptosis
- aging, neurodegenerative diseases
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