The Role of Molecular Biology in Understanding Sports-Related Health Issues

Dear Colleagues,

Molecular biology is the study of the structure, interaction, and biological activity of molecules within cells, including the mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression, protein synthesis, cytoskeleton remodeling, among others. In the sports medicine field, molecular biology can provide insight into the underlying mechanisms that contribute to several health-related issues during changes on exercise workload and the injury risk. Therefore, the study of changes at the molecular level might evoke in more sensitive and accurate biomarkers linked to the causes, development, and prognosis of some sports-related health issues (e.g., cardiovascular, renal, musculoskeletal, neurocognitive issues). In fact, this has been improved in recent years with the development of novel high-throughput technologies (e.g., fourth-generation DNA sequencing methods, single-cell spatial solutions, exosomal microRNAs array sensors, etc.) plus data analysis pipelines under a systems biology approach. Furthermore, studying the molecular changes that occur in response to exercise can provide insights into the health benefits of physical activity, including increased muscle strength and endurance, improved cardiovascular function, and reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Complementary, molecular biology can be used to study the impact of dietary (nutrition and supplementation), exercise and sleep interventions on athletic performance and post-exercise recovery. In this way, researchers can mechanistically describe the exercise-induced adaptations such as alterations in gene expression via transcription factors or epigenetic regulators, the post-transcriptional regulation processes, protein synthesis and post-translational regulation phenomena within skeletal muscle tissue. This knowledge might help to develop new strategies for preventing and treating sports-related health issues, as well as optimizing athletic performance. Since molecular biology can significantly impact sports medicine by deciphering the underlying mechanisms of sports-induced adaptations and its health-related issues, this special issue aims to publish the latest research and advancements in molecular biology related to sports medicine. It will provide a comprehensive source of the recent advances on the role of biological processes and metabolic networks to identify the etiology, pathogenesis, and potential treatments of sports-related health issues.This special issue has the potential to make several important contributions to knowledge in the field of sports medicine. By highlighting the latest research and advancements in molecular biology, this special collection can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of various sports-related health issues. We invite colleagues from around the world to submit their original articles, experimental mechanistic studies, in silico analyses, epidemiological studies, and systematic reviews with meta-analyses.

Dr. Daniel Rojas-Valverde
Guest Editor

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• molecular markers of injury and recovery in sports medicine
• the role of epigenetics in sports performance and injury risk
• the impact of exercise on the regulation of gene expression and protein synthesis
• the use of molecular biology in the development of personalized training programs
• the application of molecular biology to enhance performance and prevent injury in sports
• the role of molecular biology in the diagnosis and treatment of sports-related injuries and diseases
• the role of genetic variations in athletic performance and injury susceptibility
• molecular mechanisms underlying the benefits of exercise for cardiovascular health
• epigenetic regulation of muscle adaptation to resistance training
• the impact of nutrition on gene expression and athletic performance
• molecular biomarkers for early detection and prevention of overtraining syndrome
• the use of microRNAs as biomarkers of muscle damage and recovery in sports medicine
• the role of molecular biology in the development of regenerative therapies for sports-related injuries
• molecular mechanisms of muscle wasting and sarcopenia in aging athletes
• the impact of environmental stressors on gene expression and athletic performance.