Metabolic Dysregulation in Cardiovascular Conditions

Dear Colleagues,

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death both globally and in the United States. Metabolic conditions and hypertension are major cardiovascular risk factors. Despite treatment with multiple drugs, 75% of patients do not have their blood pressure under control, potentially due to mechanisms that are not affected by current therapies. Recent studies have shown a link between metabolic conditions and endothelial dysfunction; meanwhile, its molecular mechanism and its causative role remain elusive. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is important for the development of new therapies. Vascular dysfunction plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart failure and the development of cognitive decline and dementia, representing enormous healthcare and economic burdens for the society. Understanding the etiology of these conditions is critical to increase a person’s health span, reducing the morbidity and mortality. Multiple risk factors contribute to vascular dysfunction, including metabolic dysregulation. An old paradigm focused on systemic metabolic disorders; however, recent studies indicate that cell specific metabolic dysregulation in the vasculature promotes pathological conditions independent of systemic metabolic dysregulation. This new paradigm provides novel insights into new pathways such as accelerated vascular aging and the novel role of mitochondrial dysfunction in vascular and cardiac conditions. Recent discoveries of the metabolic mechanisms of microvascular disfunction in the heart and metabolic regulation of neurovascular coupling may lead to paradigm change in how we understand the role of metabolic conditions in cardiovascular disease. The convergent mechanism potentially underlying the interplay of major risk factors is not clear, but mitochondria may represent a common target that can drive both metabolic and redox mechanisms of cardiovascular dysfunction. There are many gaps in knowledge that must be addressed. One of them is related to role of sex and socioeconomic factors in cardiovascular risk, including metabolic mechanisms are yet to be uncovered. In this Special Issue, we will discuss the latest advances in understanding metabolic, epigenetic, hormonal, central and redox mechanisms, as well as the regulation of blood pressure, salt-sensitivity, inflammation, vascular and kidney dysfunctions. The specific roles of mitochondria and other metabolic pathways will be discussed. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of metabolic alterations and their causative role requires fundamental paradigm changes.

This Special Issue will provide a platform for molecular research on metabolic dysregulation in different cardiovascular conditions. We welcome original papers and reviews on these topics.

Prof. Dr. Sergey Dikalov
Guest Editor

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