Mitochondria Interact With the Endoplasmic Reticulum for Myocardium Injury and Vascular Endothelial Injury Under Stress: Pathological and Targeted Therapy

Myocardial damage and vascular endothelial damage induced by various stress stimuli are complications of several very common cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is generally believed that diabetes and vascular inflammation injury are important factors leading to various cardiovascular diseases. Emerging clinical evidence shows that inducible factors such as high sugar, high fat, inflammation, and hypoxia lead to the aggravation of myocardial injury to a certain extent, and also aggravate the occurrence of vascular inflammation and atherosclerotic diseases, but the underlying mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Studies in human clinical trials and experimental animal/cell models have emphasized that cell death of the mitochondrial pathway and dysfunction of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated calcium regulatory pathway are key influencing factors of myocardial and vascular endothelial injury induced by various stress stimuli. Mitochondria, as the "energy information transmission" organelles, can detect the damage of cardiomyocytes and vascular endothelial cells, and integrate and receive various external stress signals. Abnormalities in the structure and function of mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum are associated with the occurrence and development of many cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have found that there are physical and functional interactions between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, which regulate the functions of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, thus affecting the homeostasis, calcium transport and phospholipid synthesis and transport of mitochondria in cardiomyocytes and smooth muscle cells. The abnormal interaction between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria is considered to be the key mechanism of coronary heart disease, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases.





Understanding the mechanism of interaction between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum may provide a new target for the prevention and improvement of cardiovascular diseases. Drugs that target "mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum" therapy are already being developed. It has been found that a variety of drugs (including natural drugs) can regulate the "mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum" action pathway, improve the fate of cardiomyocytes and vascular endothelial damage, and treat cardiovascular diseases, which is of great significance for clinical research and development of new drugs for cardiovascular diseases. This special issue will invite researchers to write original articles and reviews to explore the regulatory network mechanisms and pathological effects of drug targeting "mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interaction mechanisms" in cardiovascular diseases and provide new drug strategies for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

In addition to drugs that affect cardiovascular disease, the special issue will also focus on specific molecular pathways that regulate the function of the mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum. Original research and review articles are welcome that contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological features of cardiovascular disease, mechanisms of drug action, and new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches related to mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interactions.







We welcome mini-reviews, narrative, and systematic reviews (including meta-analyses), original research studies, and perspective articles. Possible themes include, but are not limited to the following topics:



• New insights into the mechanism of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum interaction dysfunction in myocardial and vascular endothelial injury

• Natural medicine on the effects of therapies for myocardial and vascular endothelial injury with a focus on mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum interaction dysfunction

• Recent advances in the knowledge and understanding of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum interaction dysfunction in Cardiovascular disease

• The roles of mitochondrial oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in myocardial and microvascular damages.

• Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum stress-targeted Natural medicine or natural products to attenuate the vulnerability of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells to stressful conditions including oxidative stress, hypoxia, inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion injury, hyperglycemia, and lipotoxicity

• Clinical relevant information on the effects of therapies for myocardium and micro-vessels with a focus on Mitochondria interacting with the endoplasmic reticulum.

• Review of novel approaches to modulate mitochondrial integrity and thus improve cardiovascular function during stressful conditions.