From Molecular Mediators to Clinical Translation: Emerging Therapeutic Targets in Metabolic Dysfunction and Cardiometabolic Diseases

Metabolic dysfunction and cardiometabolic diseases represent interconnected global health challenges, imposing immense clinical and socioeconomic burdens. The intricate crosstalk between metabolic and cardiovascular systems is mediated by shared molecular networks that regulate glucose and lipid homeostasis, mitochondrial activity, oxidative balance, and systemic energy dynamics. Recent research has revealed that disturbances in these pathways drive both metabolic and cardiovascular pathologies through inflammatory, endocrine, and neurohumoral mechanisms. Despite the rapid progress in understanding these links, translating molecular insights into effective clinical interventions remains a major challenge, underlining the need for integrated, mechanistic investigations that connect molecular biology to patient outcomes.The complexity of metabolic and cardiometabolic disorders arises from the convergence of genetic predisposition, epigenetic reprogramming, and environmental triggers such as diet, lifestyle, and microbiome dysbiosis. These factors interact within core cellular processes—mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy dysregulation, and immune cell polarization—to drive disease onset and progression. While emerging therapeutic strategies increasingly target these fundamental mechanisms, the field is still transitioning from symptomatic management toward precise modulation of underlying molecular pathways. Current advances in small molecule design, biologics, and system biology-driven analytics, combined with precision nutrition, circadian modulation, and integrative data modeling, reveal promising opportunities to redefine cardiometabolic care through individualized and multi-targeted therapies. However, the translational gap between bench and bedside remains substantial, demanding multidisciplinary efforts across molecular, clinical, and computational sciences.This Research Topic aims to explore the molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and translational opportunities underlying metabolic dysfunction and cardiometabolic diseases. To gather further insights into how these processes inform novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Shared Molecular Mediators: Identification of common pathogenic pathways — oxidative stress, mitochondrial dynamics, protein misfolding, autophagy, and inflammatory polarization — across metabolic and cardiometabolic disease classeso Emerging Therapeutic Targets: Small-molecule drugs modulating mitochondrial metabolism, insulin signaling, or neuroinflammation, and their translational potential in cardiometabolic conditionso Biologics and Advanced Therapies: Monoclonal antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, and gene therapy approaches targeting molecular nodes in metabolic dysfunction and cardiometabolic diseaseo Multi-Targeted and Systems Biology-Guided Interventions: Drug combinations and network pharmacology strategies that address parallel pathogenic pathways to improve efficacy, reduce resistance, and restore metabolic balanceo Precision Medicine and Computational Approaches: Integration of computational modeling, biomarker discovery, and experimental validation to deliver personalized therapeutic strategies in metabolic and cardiometabolic disease Topic editors: Shaohua Qi, Lexiao Jin, Ting Wu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81791/from-molecular-mediators-to-clinical-translation-emerging-therapeutic-targets-in-metabolic-dysfunction-and-cardiometabolic-diseases