Guest Editors
Asso. Prof. Azizul Haque
Email: haque@musc.edu
Affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Homepage:
Research Interests: inflammation, immunity, autophagy, Parkinson’s disease, neurodegeneration
Summary
Autophagy, a fundamental cellular process dependent on lysosomal degradation, plays a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and responding to environmental stresses. As organisms age, the decline in autophagy efficiency has emerged as a pivotal factor influencing various age-related diseases and physiological decline.
This special issue aims to explore the intricate relationship between autophagy and aging, highlighting its biological significance across different organisms and cellular contexts. We invite submissions that provide novel insights into the mechanisms through which autophagy preserves cellular function, regulates stem cell populations, and mitigates cellular senescence.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Basal Autophagy and Cellular Homeostasis:
-Mechanisms underlying basal autophagy and its role in maintaining cellular function.
-Regulation of autophagy in response to aging and environmental cues.
2. Autophagy and Stem Cell Dynamics:
-Impact of autophagy on stem cell maintenance and differentiation during aging.
-Role of autophagy in tissue regeneration and repair.
3. Autophagy in Senescence and Age-Related Diseases:
-Relationship between autophagy dysfunction and age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders.
-Therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy to combat aging-related pathologies.
4. Stress-Induced Senescence and Autophagic Responses:
-Role of autophagy in stress-induced senescence pathways, such as oncogene activation and premalignant conditions.
-Interplay between autophagy and cellular senescence in aging.
5. Autophagosomes and aging
-The formation and maturation of Autophagosomes during cellular senescence
-Relationship between abnormal autophagosomes and age-related diseases, such as vascular senescence, Atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, etc.
6. Autophagy and Cancer:
-Dual role of autophagy in tumorigenesis: tumor suppression versus promotion.
-Mechanisms through which autophagy influences cancer progression in aging populations.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that advance our understanding of autophagy's role in aging biology and its implications for human health. Manuscripts should provide mechanistic insights and robust experimental data to elucidate the complex interactions and processes involving autophagy in aging.
Keywords
autophagy, aging, cellular homeostasis, lysosomal degradation, stem cells, senescence, age-related diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, stress-induced senescence, tumorigenesis