Recently, Chinese researchers have made significant progress in animal venom research in comprehending the diversity and complexity of these molecules and their potential applications in medicine, biotechnology, and as research tools. Advancements in 'omics' technologies such as proteomics, genomics, and transcriptomics have empowered Chinese researchers to identify and analyze venom-coded genes and proteins, revealing a kaleidoscope of novel peptide toxins with diverse functions and activities. The reprint focus on the perspective on some of the most recent and dynamic contributions of animal toxins research by Chinese researchers. The purpose of this reprint is to provide the latest work by Chinese researchers on the discovery of animal toxins, the mechanism underlining their actions, the mining of drug leads from peptide toxins, and the diagnosis and treatment of bites or stings by venomous animals.

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This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact

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This reprint offers a comprehensive and updated overview of the current state-of-the-art techniques in the management of various neurological disorders. These disorders include neurodegenerative diseases, neurovascular disorders, and neuro-oncological diseases. The reprint also presents the latest advances and innovations in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these complex conditions, emphasizing the role of cutting-edge technologies, such as neurobiology, neuroimaging, neuroinformatics, neuropharmacology, and neurosurgery. This reprint is a useful resource for researchers, clinicians, students, and anyone interested in the current challenges and perspectives of neurological disorders.

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Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a particular phenotype of non-ischemic systolic heart failure, frequently recognizing a genetic background and affecting relatively young patients with few comorbidities. Nowadays, long-term survival of DCM patients has been markedly improved due to an early diagnosis and uninterrupted and tailored follow-up under constant optimal medical and non-pharmacological evidence-based treatments. Nevertheless, DCM is still one of the most common causes of heart transplantation in the western world. Clinical management requires an integrated and systematic use of diagnostic tools and a deeper investigation of the basic mechanisms underlying the disease. However, several emerging issues remain debated. Specifically, the genotype–phenotype correlation, the role of advanced imaging techniques and genetic testing, the lack of appropriate risk stratification models, the need for a multiparametric and multidisciplinary approach for device implantation, and a continuous reclassification of the disease during follow-up remain challenging issues in clinical practice. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to shed the light on the most recent advancements in characterization and clinical management of DCM in order to unveil the conundrum of this particular disease.

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This reprint is a compilation of the articles and reviews published in the Special issue entitled "Controversies and Recent Advances in Senescence and Aging" in Cells. The Editorial summarises and highlights the contents of the published articles. Aging is the leading predictive factor of many chronic diseases that account for most of the morbidity and mortality worldwide, i.e., neurodegeneration, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and bone diseases, as well as cancers. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species generation, the over-production of inflammatory cytokines, the activation of oncogenes, DNA damage, telomere shortening, and the accumulation of senescent cells are all widely accepted mechanisms contributing to aging. Senescence is mainly thought to be provoked by negative cellular stress but might also be induced by physiological developmental stimuli. Senescence is characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest independent of quiescence and terminal differentiation. The Special Issue entitled “Controversies and Recent Advances in Senescence and Aging”, which is contained in this reprint, comprises an excellent collection of original articles and reviews highlighting different novel aspects in the fields of senescence and aging research. They will hopefully stimulate discussions and further research in these fields, which are extremely important in a constantly aging human population.

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that are 19–24 nucleotides in length, following maturation. Recent evidence has demonstrated their key role as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression through the binding of specific sequences within target messenger RNA (mRNA). miRNAs are involved in the synthesis of a very large number of proteins, and it is speculated that they could regulate up to 30% of the human genome. They control virtually every cellular process and are essential for animal development, cell differentiation, and homeostasis. Altered miRNA expression has been linked to such pathological events as inflammatory, degenerative, or autoimmune processes and have been associated with several diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatic and neurological disorders. Recently, miRNAs have been found in many different biological fluids, and this observation suggests the potential of miRNAs as new candidate biomarkers for diagnosis, classification, prognosis, and responsiveness in the treatment of different pathological conditions. Furthermore, the development of therapeutic strategies that involve either restoring or repressing miRNAs expression and activity has attracted much attention. Significant progress has been made in the systems for delivery of miRNAs, even if substantial improvements in this area are still necessary. Although they have been extensively studied, a number of interesting questions regarding the physiological and pathological role of miRNAs have been postulated, and their potential diagnostic and therapeutic role remain yet unanswered. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are free radical-containing oxygen molecules derived from cellular oxidative metabolism, including enzyme activities and mitochondrial respiration, and play a pivotal role in many cellular functions. Whereas ROS are essential for normal cellular processes, their aberrant production, or failure of the capacity to scavenge excessive ROS, induces an altered redox status with excessive synthesis of free radicals, leading to an imbalance in the redox environment of the cell. The loss of normal ROS levels causes lipid, protein, and DNA damage, which contribute to the development of various pathologies including neurological disorders, rheumatic and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Increasing evidence highlights that there is crosstalk between miRNAs and components of redox signaling, even if this complex and the characteristics of mutual interaction need to be amply elucidated. Hence, both miRNAs and oxidative stress are involved in the multifactorial development and progression of acute and chronic diseases by influencing numerous signaling and metabolic pathways. The Special Issue entitled "Crosstalk between MicroRNA and Oxidative Stress in Physiology and Pathology" of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences includes original articles and reviews that provide new insights into the interaction between miRNAs and oxidative stress under normal and pathological conditions which can assist in the development of new therapeutic strategies. Finally, I would like to thank all the authors for their excellent contribution. I hope this Special Issue will provide readers with updated knowledge about the role of miRNAs and oxidative stress in physiology and pathology.

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Metabolic syndrome is defined by a cluster of interrelated cardiovascular risk factors (hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and central adiposity), linked to a chronic, systemic, and low-grade inflammation, which severely increases the risk of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A growing body of evidence generated in the last decades has shown that not only the energy balance but also the macro-, micro-, and non-nutrient composition of the diet may influence the onset and progression of metabolic syndrome. However, further research is required to increase our understanding about the contribution of diet to metabolic syndrome prevention.

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This Special Issue begins with two preclinical studies on bergamot fruit extract (Citrus bergamia) showing reductions in oxidative stress and dyslipidemia both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, a review explores the potential therapeutic use of combining SGLT2 inhibitors with plant extracts. In another in vivo study, humanized mice supplemented with L-carnitine and essential oil emulsions exhibited prebiotic effects on gut microbiota, reducing plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels and increasing fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Preclinical studies also examined the impact of copper nanoparticles on oxidative stress and vascular relaxation, and assessed the quality of herbal teas and dietary supplements, revealing deficiencies in their nutraceutical content. Two reviews highlight the health benefits of astaxanthin and taurine. Clinical studies include a retrospective analysis linking glucosamine usage to increased cardiovascular risk in osteoarthritis patients, and a trial demonstrating the efficacy of L-Arginine plus vitamin C supplementation in long-COVID patients. The issue concludes with three placebo-controlled trials: one showing Coenzyme Q10 plus NADH benefits on fatigue and quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome patients, another revealing the antioxidant effects of water-soluble tomato concentrate in healthy adults, and a third highlighting the positive impact of bergamot polyphenolic fraction phytosome, artichoke extracts, Q10 phytosome, and zinc on lipid profiles, inflammation, NAFLD, and endothelial reactivity in hypercholesterolemic individuals.

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This special issue on the genetics of Alzheimer's disease was edited by Drs. Laura Ibanez and Justin Miller in 2021. It contains 10 original articles and reviews that help readers understand specific genetic contributions to Alzheimer's disease and how genetics will play a role in future Alzheimer's disease research.

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This book gathers a collection of review articles aiming to provide an update of the current knowledge on PD pathogenesis. It notably includes an overview of several key cellular dysfunctions underlying the etiology of Parkinson’s disease, including ER stress, mitophagy and alpha-synuclein-linked pathology.

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The impairment of neurogenesis may be induced after pre- and post-natal chemical and biological toxin, alcohol, or radiation exposure, drug treatment, hormone imbalances, stress, pain, hypoxia, brain trauma, malnutrition, and aging. It also occurs as a result of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome (DS), autism, fragile X syndrome (FXS), neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) epilepsy, and Huntington's disease (HD), and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia; however, the causal relationship between the impairment of neurogenesis and neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders remains unknown. In this Special Issue, entitled “Induced Impairment of Neurogenesis and Brain Diseases”, original animal or cell experimental research and review papers were combined to discuss different causes of the impairment of neurogenesis, relevant neurobehavioral changes, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches. The aim is to update researchers and clinicians about the complexity of the development of the impairment of neurogenesis, the importance of the involvement of the impairment of neurogenesis in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, and to provide some clues for designing novel therapeutic approaches by targeting the impairment of neurogenesis to effectively prevent or treat different genetic, neurological, and neuropsychological disorders.

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The very first marine-derived anticancer drug, Cytarabine (aka Ara-C, Cytosar-U®), was approved by the FDA in 1969 for the treatment of leukemia. At the beginning of 2021, the list of approved marine-derived anticancer drugs consists of nine substances, five of which received approval within the last two years, demonstrating the rapid evolution of the field. The current book is a collection of scientific articles related to the exponentially growing field of anticancer marine compounds. These articles cover the whole field, from agents with cancer-preventive activity, to novel and previously characterized compounds with anticancer activity, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as the latest status of compounds under clinical development.

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Global cancer incidence and death are expected to increase in the next decades. Inappropriate therapeutic regimens and tumor recurrence due to the development of drug resistance are two major clinical challenges impacting poor patient outcomes, which is critical to the discovery and development of new anticancer drugs. Over the last few decades, the marine environment has proved to be a key source of molecules with potent anticancer properties. The Special Issue, “Marine Natural Products as Anticancer Agents 2.0”, gathered eleven publications, including two reviews and nine research articles, about the anticancer activities of marine natural and/or derived products on in vitro 2D and 3D cellular models, and/or in vivo models of colorectal, breast, lung, myeloma, liver, leukemia, and melanoma cancers. Altogether, the eleven scientific papers published in this Special Issue provide an exciting overview of marine natural products as potential anticancer agents.

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The range of human neurodegenerative diseases continues to pose significant unmet medical needs for societies around the world. The progressive and terminal nature of these conditions places a considerable personal burden on the individual affected but also on public health systems and health services. Tens of millions of people are indiscriminately affected by various dementias, which are rising at an alarming rate. There are no cures for many conditions, and it is clear that treatments applied as early as possible could greatly improve outcomes for patients. Therefore, new disease classification and diagnostic tools should be a key priority. Metabolomics represents a relatively new field of analytical science, which can be extremely useful in the early diagnosis of disease. The relatively unique feature of metabolites is that they sit at the intersection between the genetic background of an organism and its environment. Because many neurodegenerative diseases are not genetically inherited (instead having a range of known genetic risk factors and also a large number of unknown environmental triggers) the field of metabolomics offers great promise for the discovery of new, biologically, and clinically relevant biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders. It is already bringing forward new knowledge in terms of the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease.

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Mitochondria are subcellular organelles evolved by the endosymbiosis of bacteria with eukaryotic cells. They are the main source of ATP in the cell and engaged in other aspects of cell metabolism and cell function, including the regulation of ion homeostasis, cell growth, redox status, and cell signaling. Due to their central role in cell life and death, mitochondria are also involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human diseases/conditions, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and aging. However, despite the increasing number of studies, precise mechanisms whereby mitochondria are involved in the regulation of basic physiological functions, as well as their role in the cell under pathophysiological conditions, remain unknown. A lack of in-depth knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial metabolism and function, as well as interplay between the factors that transform the organelle from its role in pro-survival to pro-death, have hindered the development of new mitochondria-targeted pharmacological and conditional approaches for the treatment of human diseases. This book highlights the latest achievements in elucidating the role of mitochondria under physiological conditions, in various cell/animal models of human diseases, and in patients.

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This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact

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This collection of review articles authored by international experts pulls together current information about the role of mitochondria in aging and diseases of aging. Mitochondria are vitally important cellular organelles and undergo their own aging process becoming less efficient in aged animals including humans. These changes have wide-ranging significance contributing to immune dysfunction (autoimmunity and immune deficiency), inflammation, delayed healing, skin and retinal damage, cancer and most of the degenerative diseases of aging. Mitochondrial aging predisposes to drug toxicity in the geriatric population and to many of the features of normal aging. The research detailed in this book summarizes current understanding of the role of mitochondria in the complex molecular changes of aging, moving on to specific diseases of aging. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important target for development of treatments for aging and disease. The last article details how exercise is a treatment and combats many features of the aging process.

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Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are a large family of enzymes that function as signal transducers to regulate a diverse range of physiological responses. However, signaling via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK also underpin many disease processes. This Special Issue provides new insights into how MAPK signaling contributes to specific pathological processes across a range of conditions, including disorders of lung development, type 2 diabetes, proliferative skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological diseases.

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Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are the most common pathologies of the central nervous system currently without a cure. They share common molecular and cellular characteristics, including protein misfolding, mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate toxicity, dysregulation of calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and ageing, which contribute to neuronal death. Efforts to treat these diseases are often limited by their multifactorial etiology. Natural products, thanks to their multitarget activities, are considered promising alternatives for the treatment of neurodegeneration. This book deals with two different forms of natural products: extracts and isolated compounds. The study of the bioactivity of the extracts is extremely important as many studies have demonstrated the synergistic effect of the combination of different natural products. On the other hand, the investigation of the activity of specifically isolated natural products can be also important to understand their cellular and molecular mechanisms and to define the specific bioactive components in extracts or foods. This book can be considered an important contribution to knowledge of the neuroprotective effect of natural products and presents a great deal of information, related to both the benefits but also the limitations of their use in counteracting neurodegeneration.

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Environmental exposure to metallic neurotoxicants is a matter of growing concern since it may have very significant consequences for human health, from impairing neurodevelopment in children to the neurodegeneration processes involved in aging. The scientific community will face many challenges in identifying and preventing the adverse effects of environmental metal exposure on brain health. This collection of articles provides an overview of current work in the field of neurotoxicology of metal contaminants, from the identification of emerging toxic compounds, to the assessment of environmental exposures and associated risks, through the description of the molecular mechanisms involved in neurotoxicity.

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Cardiac biomarkers such as troponins and natiuretic peptides have made a great impact on clinical decision making as well as improving our understanding of molecular mechanisms of different disease conditions. However, the biomarkers that are currently in use do not reflect all the multiple disease pathways that are involved in a broad spectrum of cardiac disease conditions ranging from acute coronary syndrome, to heart failure (and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, HFpEF), to pulmonary hypertension or arrhythmias. In this Special Issue, we will provide an overview of the current developments in the field of biomarker research, beginning with research on molecular pathways and cellular communication (e.g., microRNA) up to the clinical use of biomarkers.

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents the most common form of dementia in the elderly population worldwide. AD is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration that leads to a gradual deterioration of memory and other cognitive functions. Given the global prevalence and impact of AD, there is a critical need to establish biomarkers that can be used to detect AD in individuals before the onset of clinical signs and provide mitigating therapeutics. The aim of this Special Issue is to discuss the current knowledge as well as future perspectives on the role of biomarkers in the screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of AD.

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In this book, we have reported the most recent discoveries and updates regarding molecular pathways in osteoarthritis. In particular, the advances regarding therapeutical options, from a molecular point of view, are largely discussed.

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Loss of muscle mass and increased fibrosis characterize both sarcopenia of aging and muscular dystrophy. Research is increasingly showing that these two conditions also share several pathophysiological mechanisms, including mitochondrial dysfunction, increased apoptosis, abnormal modulation of autophagy, decline in satellite cells, increased generation of reactive oxygen species, and abnormal regulation of signaling and stress response pathways. This Research Topic will cover several mechanisms involved in aging and dystrophic sarcopenia and explore the therapeutic potential of various strategies for intervention.

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This Reprint focuses on the critical role of redox homeostasis and oxidative stress in human health and disease. Oxidative imbalance and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are now recognized as key contributors to the development and progression of various metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory conditions. The articles collected in this volume highlight both fundamental mechanisms and clinical implications of oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, antioxidant defense systems, and redox signaling pathways. Special attention is given to emerging biomarkers of oxidative stress, therapeutic modulation strategies, and the interplay between redox status and disease-specific pathophysiology. This Reprint provides a valuable, up-to-date reference for researchers, clinicians, and professionals interested in molecular medicine, biochemistry, and redox biology.

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