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Environmental Influences on Cellular Responses

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: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 597

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Cells also need to sense their environment. For example, they need to recognize whether vital molecules such as oxygen or nutrients are present. In short, cells can be regarded as environmental sensors of biological systems that react to different stimuli from their immediate environment by adapting their function and/or activity. The molecular mechanisms of environmental sensing and signaling are becoming increasingly important as they are associated with various diseases, not least cancer.

With this Special Issue, we aim to summarize current research in the fields of environmental biology and environmental medicine that addresses how environmental factors induce physiological adaptations or trigger pathological changes in the organism. We welcome the submission of original and review manuscripts on cell biology research in humans and beyond.

Dr. Marcus Krüger
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cell/environment interaction
  • cell signaling
  • mechanobiology
  • photobiology
  • thermobiology
  • enviromics
  • cell-cell communication
  • cell-cell interaction

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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15 pages, 3491 KiB  
Article
Prolonged Humid Heat Triggers Systemic Inflammation and Stress Signaling: Fluid Intake Modulates NF-κB, p38, JNK2, and STAT3α Pathways
by Faming Wang, Caiping Lu, Ying Lei and Tze-Huan Lei
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5114; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115114 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 462
Abstract
Prolonged exposure to extreme humid heat can induce systemic inflammation, organ stress, and hormonal imbalance. While fluid replacement is commonly recommended, its mechanistic efficacy under humid heat stress remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of fluid intake on thermoregulation, inflammation, organ function, [...] Read more.
Prolonged exposure to extreme humid heat can induce systemic inflammation, organ stress, and hormonal imbalance. While fluid replacement is commonly recommended, its mechanistic efficacy under humid heat stress remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of fluid intake on thermoregulation, inflammation, organ function, and stress signaling during 8 h of humid heat exposure (ambient temperature: 40 °C, relative humidity: 55%) in 32 healthy young adults (20 males and 12 females). Participants completed two randomized trials: limited fluid intake (LFI, 125 mL/h) and full fluid intake (FFI, 375 mL/h). Core temperature (Tcore), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α), organ stress markers (ALT, BUN), oxidative stress indices (MDA, SOD), and cortisol were assessed pre- and post-exposure. FFI significantly reduced post-exposure Tcore (37.8 ± 0.3 °C vs. 38.1 ± 0.3 °C, p = 0.046), mitigated cytokine elevations, and decreased BUN (blood urea nitrogen), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), and cortisol levels. Western blot analysis of PBMCs revealed that LFI activated NF-κB p65, JNK2, p38, and STAT3α phosphorylation, whereas FFI suppressed these responses. These findings demonstrate that adequate hydration attenuates heat-induced systemic and molecular stress responses. Our results highlight hydration as a key modulator of inflammatory signaling pathways during prolonged heat stress, offering insights into preventive strategies for populations vulnerable to climate-induced extreme heat events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Influences on Cellular Responses)
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