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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lipid metabolism plays a key role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and is linked to pathological processes including obesity, diabetes and a number of neurologic disorders. In ASCVD, cholesterol, an essential cell membrane component, accumulates in the arterial wall. LDL is the main carrier of circulating cholesterol within the body and, when oxidatively modified, is highly atherogenic. Atheroprotective removal of cholesterol is predominantly via HDL-mediated reverse cholesterol transport. Approximately 40–65% of persons with Alzheimer’s disease carry the ApolipoproteinE-ε4 haplotype. In the last decade, our understanding of pathological mechanisms in disordered lipid metabolism has led to new biomarkers and drug treatments such as PCSK9 inhibitors for hypercholesterolemia. Recent progress in understanding biological pathways that influence lipid metabolism has implications in improving lifespan and quality of life for persons with ASCVD and other disorders.

For this Special Issue of Metabolites, we invite original research articles and reviews focused on developments in cholesterol and lipid metabolism highlighting how our evolving knowledge impacts treatment approaches to cardiovascular and neurologic disorders. We are particularly interested in the role of microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, complex signaling pathways and immune/inflammatory mechanisms in regulating lipid homeostasis in the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Dr. Allison B Reiss
Dr. Joshua De Leon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

cholesterol
lipids
atherosclerosis
neurodegeneration
apolipoproteins
myocardial infarction
stroke
Alzheimer’s disease
microRNA
dyslipidemia

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 4523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neonatal Orally Administered Zingerone Attenuates Alcohol-Induced Fatty Liver Disease in Experimental Rat Models

by Bernice Asiedu, Busisani Wiseman Lembede, Monica Gomes, Abe Kasonga, Pilani Nkomozepi, Trevor Tapiwa Nyakudya and Eliton Chivandi

Metabolites 2023, 13(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020167 - 23 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1735

Abstract

Alcohol intake at different developmental stages can lead to the development of alcohol-induced fatty liver disease (AFLD). Zingerone (ZO) possess hepato-protective properties; thus, when administered neonatally, it could render protection against AFLD. This study aimed to evaluate the potential long-term protective effect of ZO against the development of AFLD. One hundred and twenty-three 10-day-old Sprague–Dawley rat pups (60 males; 63 females) were randomly assigned to four groups and orally administered the following treatment regimens daily during the pre-weaning period from postnatal day (PND) 12–21: group 1—nutritive milk (NM), group 2—NM +1 g/kg ethanol (Eth), group 3—NM + 40 mg/kg ZO, group 4—NM + Eth +ZO. From PND 46–100, each group from the neonatal stage was divided into two; subgroup I had tap water and subgroup II had ethanol solution as drinking fluid, respectively, for eight weeks. Mean daily ethanol intake, which ranged from 10 to 14.5 g/kg body mass/day, resulted in significant CYP2E1 elevation (p < 0.05). Both late single hit and double hit with alcohol increased liver fat content, caused hepatic macrosteatosis, dysregulated mRNA expression of SREBP1c and PPAR-α in male and female rats (p < 0.05). However, neonatal orally administered ZO protected against liver lipid accretion and SREBP1c upregulation in male rats only and attenuated the alcohol-induced hepatic PPAR-α downregulation and macrosteatosis in both sexes. This data suggests that neonatal orally administered zingerone can be a potential prophylactic agent against the development of AFLD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism II)

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Review

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27 pages, 1713 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Exosomes in Cardiovascular Disease: From Mechanism to Therapeutic Target

by Allison B. Reiss, Saba Ahmed, Maryann Johnson, Usman Saeedullah and Joshua De Leon

Metabolites 2023, 13(4), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13040479 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3377

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. In recent decades, clinical research has made significant advances, resulting in improved survival and recovery rates for patients with CVD. Despite this progress, there is substantial residual CVD risk and an unmet need for better treatment. The complex and multifaceted pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of CVD pose a challenge for researchers seeking effective therapeutic interventions. Consequently, exosomes have emerged as a new focus for CVD research because their role as intercellular communicators gives them the potential to act as noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic nanocarriers. In the heart and vasculature, cell types such as cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle, cardiac fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and resident stem cells are involved in cardiac homeostasis via the release of exosomes. Exosomes encapsulate cell-type specific miRNAs, and this miRNA content fluctuates in response to the pathophysiological setting of the heart, indicating that the pathways affected by these differentially expressed miRNAs may be targets for new treatments. This review discusses a number of miRNAs and the evidence that supports their clinical relevance in CVD. The latest technologies in applying exosomal vesicles as cargo delivery vehicles for gene therapy, tissue regeneration, and cell repair are described. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism II)

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