Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.0
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Current Research for Heart Disease Biology and Therapeutics (Third Edition)
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Current Research for Heart Disease Biology and Therapeutics (Third Edition)

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 2457

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Claudia Kusmic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Insitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (IFC-CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: functional food in cardioprotection; relationship between nutrition and cardiovascular disease; preclinical models; cardiometabolic risk; atherosclerotic vascular disease; cardiovascular disease; obesity; mitochondrial damage; cardio-oncology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

"Heart disease" encompasses various types of heart conditions. One significant risk factor for heart failure is pathological cardiac hypertrophy, which is characterized by increased interstitial fibrosis, cardiac dysfunction, and cell death. Numerous mediators play a role in developing maladaptive heart growth, impacting gene transcription, calcium handling, protein synthesis, metabolism, mitochondrial function, autophagy, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Many molecular mechanisms and dysregulated signaling pathways contributing to harmful cardiac remodeling have yet to be fully understood. Therefore, focusing on these key regulatory points is essential for developing innovative strategies for managing heart disease.

This Special Issue, led by Dr. Claudia Kusmic and assisted by Dr. Serena L'Abbate from the Institute of Clinical Physiology at the National Research Council (IFC-CNR) in Pisa, Italy, aims to assess recent advances in developing and validating therapeutic strategies for heart disease. We welcome research papers and comprehensive review articles on various topics, including conventional drug strategies and novel therapeutic approaches, such as RNA-based therapies, dietary supplementation, and drug delivery systems that target molecular pathways involved in the progression of heart disease.

Dr. Claudia Kusmic
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • myocardial hypertrophy
  • cardiac remodeling
  • heart failure
  • drug therapy
  • molecular therapeutic targets
  • myocardial gene therapy
  • heart disease

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 1471 KB  
Article
Cytokine Networks and Heart Failure Outcomes: CA125 as a Bridge Between Congestion and Inflammation
by Enrique Santas, Arancha Martí-Martínez, Sandra Villar, Rafael de la Espriella, Enrique Rodriguez-Borja, Elena Revuelta-López, Arantxa González-Miqueo, Antoni Bayés-Genís, Juan Sanchis and Julio Núñez
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9527; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199527 - 29 Sep 2025
Viewed by 389
Abstract
Inflammation and congestion constitute fundamental mechanisms underlying heart failure (HF). Carbohydrate Antigen 125 (CA125) is a well-established biomarker in HF, primarily associated with congestion, but also it may act as a functional ligand amplifying the inflammatory response in HF. Our aim was to [...] Read more.
Inflammation and congestion constitute fundamental mechanisms underlying heart failure (HF). Carbohydrate Antigen 125 (CA125) is a well-established biomarker in HF, primarily associated with congestion, but also it may act as a functional ligand amplifying the inflammatory response in HF. Our aim was to evaluate the potential modulatory effect of CA125 on inflammation, assessed by a set of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]). We prospectively included 284 patients admitted for acute HF in which cytokines and CA125 were assessed at admission. Study endpoints were all-cause mortality and total HF rehospitalizations. At a median follow-up of 4.2 years (interquartile range: 1.3–7.5), a total of 211 patients (74.3%) died, and 117 patients (41.2%) experienced 249 HF readmissions. In the multivariable analysis, a significant interaction between IL-6 and IL-10 and CA125 was observed for both outcomes (p-value for interactions < 0.05 for all comparisons). Among patients with CA125 > 35 U/mL, both IL-6 and IL-10 showed a positive, linear relationship with the risk of death or HF readmissions. In contrast, we did not find a significant association in patients with CA125 ≤ 35 U/mL. In conclusion, the association between IL-6 and IL-10 with long-term adverse events was significantly modulated by CA125 status, being significantly associated with poor prognosis only when CA125 was upregulated. These findings support a potential modulatory role for CA125 in the inflammatory response in HF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Research for Heart Disease Biology and Therapeutics (Third Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1103 KB  
Article
Imeglimin Alleviates High-Glucose-Induced Bioenergetic and Oxidative Stress Thereby Enhancing Intercellular Adhesion in H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts
by Hiroshi Ohguro, Megumi Watanabe, Megumi Suzuki, Naruki Ohara, Toshifumi Ogawa, Tatsuya Sato and Toshiyuki Yano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 8913; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26188913 - 12 Sep 2025
Viewed by 595
Abstract
To elucidate the effects of the new antidiabetic agent, imeglimin (Ime, 2 mM), on high-glucose-induced cellular stress in cardiac cells, its effects were compared with those of the conventional antidiabetic agent metformin (Met, 2 mM) based on various cellular pathophysiological functions. H9c2 cardiomyoblasts [...] Read more.
To elucidate the effects of the new antidiabetic agent, imeglimin (Ime, 2 mM), on high-glucose-induced cellular stress in cardiac cells, its effects were compared with those of the conventional antidiabetic agent metformin (Met, 2 mM) based on various cellular pathophysiological functions. H9c2 cardiomyoblasts were cultured under normal-glucose (5.5 mM, N-Glu) or high-glucose (50 mM, H-Glu) conditions. Cellular metabolic function was evaluated using a Seahorse XFe96 Bioanalyzer, along with measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, expression levels of the autophagy-related marker LC3, and intercellular adhesion properties measured based on transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Cells cultured under H-Glu conditions showed enhanced mitochondrial and glycolytic activities, which were suppressed by Met or Ime. Under H-Glu conditions, total cellular ROS (t-ROS) levels were significantly increased. Met had little effect on t-ROS under H-Glu conditions, whereas Ime markedly reduced both t-ROS and mitochondrial ROS (m-ROS) levels under H-Glu conditions. The LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, a marker of autophagic activity, decreased under H-Glu conditions; however, this reduction was not significantly affected by treatment with either Met or Ime. Regarding intercellular adhesion properties, TEER values were elevated under H-Glu conditions compared to N-Glu conditions, and those under H-Glu conditions were further increased by Ime but not Met. In support of these results, the mRNA levels of cell-adhesion-related molecules, including β-catenin and N-cadherin, were also altered by Ime. Collectively, Ime modulated high-glucose-induced alterations in the biological properties of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts, independent of changes in autophagic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Research for Heart Disease Biology and Therapeutics (Third Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

20 pages, 1196 KB  
Review
Biomarkers for Personalised Primary or Secondary Prevention in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Rapid Scoping Review
by Chantal Babb de Villiers, Elena Plans-Beriso, Chaitanya Erady, Laura Blackburn, Hayley Wilson, Heather Turner, Isla Kuhn, Cristina Barahona-López, Paul Diez-Echave, Orlando Romulo Hernández, Nerea Fernández de Larrea-Baz, Dafina Petrova, Ramon Cierco Jimenez, Pablo Fernández-Navarro, Esther García-Esquinas, Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo, María José Sánchez, Víctor Moreno, Marina Pollán, Beatriz Perez-Gomez and Mark Kroeseadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9346; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199346 - 24 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1085
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Early detection and personalised prevention strategies are crucial for reducing the burden of CVD. The use of biomarkers plays a pivotal role in identifying individuals at risk and facilitating timely interventions. [...] Read more.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Early detection and personalised prevention strategies are crucial for reducing the burden of CVD. The use of biomarkers plays a pivotal role in identifying individuals at risk and facilitating timely interventions. This rapid scoping review aims to identify and evaluate current research on biomarkers used for primary and secondary personalised prevention of CVD, highlighting evidence gaps and the integration of digital technologies. A comprehensive search was conducted in Medline and Embase databases from January 2020 to February 2023. Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis and PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. A total of 775 studies were included, with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke being the most investigated CVDs. Molecular, cellular, imaging, physiological, and anthropometric biomarkers were included. Molecular biomarkers, particularly genetic and biochemical, were the most researched. For secondary prevention, there was considerable research using imaging biomarkers. Genetic biomarker research was the most frequent category of biomarker identified, particularly using variant analysis and polygenic scores, followed by biochemical, imaging, and physiological biomarkers. There was also evidence of the integration of artificial intelligence to enhance the predictive capabilities of these biomarkers. Despite progress, research gaps were identified for less common CVDs, such as aortic aneurysm and nonrheumatic valvular heart disease, and limited research investigating other molecular biomarker types, such as epigenetics and transcriptomics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Research for Heart Disease Biology and Therapeutics (Third Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop