Structure and Function of Intermediate Filaments in Health and Disease
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 June 2025 | Viewed by 6758
Special Issue Editors
Interests: membrane traffic; Rab proteins; endocytosis; endosomes; lysosomes; cytoskeleton; extracellular vesicles; neurodegenerative diseases; molecular basis of cancer
Interests: molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases; intermediate filaments; vimentin; peripherin; vesicular traffic; autophagy; endocytosis; lysosomes
Interests: mitochondria; mitochondria dynamics; mitochondria biogenesis; mitochondria-derived extracellular vesicles; autophagy; molecular basis of cancer chemoresistance
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The cellular cytoskeleton is a complex network of filaments whose main functions comprise providing cell shape and mechanical resistance to deformation, as well as enabling cell migration. However, the cytoskeleton also influences many other cellular processes and is important for every aspect of the life of the cell.
In particular, intermediate filaments are fundamental for the structure of tissues, as they are important for cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion, but also for proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, autophagy, organelle positioning, trafficking and functions, signaling, and even determination of cell fate. Similar to other cytoskeleton components, intermediate filaments constitute a finely regulated dynamic network. However, in many cases, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying these regulations are not yet completely clear. Importantly, alterations of intermediate filaments are present in several human diseases such as, for instance, cancer, immune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and digestive diseases. Additionally, the presence of intermediate filaments in body fluids such as plasma or cerebrospinal fluid has been correlated to several diseases including neurodegenerative diseases and even COVID.
In this Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences we invite contributions, in the form of original research articles or reviews, dealing with all the different aspects related to intermediate filament biology. We particularly welcome articles with mechanistic insights and articles investigating the intermediate filament role in cells at the molecular level, as well as articles dealing with alterations in the intermediate filament structure and function in human diseases.
Topic of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Structure and characteristics of intermediate filament proteins;
- Gene expression and epigenetic studies;
- Post-translational modifications of intermediate filament proteins;
- Role of intermediate filaments in regulating cellular processes;
- Alterations of intermediate filaments in human diseases.
Prof. Cecilia Bucci
Dr. Roberta Romano
Dr. Flora Guerra
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- intermediate filaments
- vimentin
- peripherin
- lamins
- keratins
- neurofilaments
- mechanics
- migration
- signaling
- autophagy
- organelle positioning
- organelle function
- inflammation
- neurodegenerative diseases
- cancer
- gene expression
- epigenetics
- post-translational modifications
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