Dear Colleagues,

Regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid–adrenal–gonadal (HPTAG) axis, involving a well-balanced endocrine circadian rhythmicity, is crucial to bodily homeostasis, and thus the proper functioning of a spectrum of physiological activities. Trophic hormones primarily govern the biosynthesis of steroid hormones that are produced from cholesterol, in which the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) plays an indispensable role. There is a wealth of information supporting the fact that STAR influences a variety of cholesterol- and steroid-led events. Steroid hormones, functionally grouped into two categories: corticosteroids (glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids) and sex steroids (androgens, progesterone, and estrogens), promote diverse processes, ranging from homeostasis to reproduction to neurodegeneration. Disruption in the HPTAG auto-regulatory system affects the functional efficacies of all organs, and results in a decline in the central nervous system and the endocrine system, involving an assortment of hormones. Hormone deficiencies modulate the immune system, develop into an array of physiological anomalies, and contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. These conditions profoundly affect geriatric populations. Senescence is the central hallmark of aging, and is triggered by numerous factors and/or events including epigenetic dysregulation, DNA damage, and dysfunction in mitochondrial networks, eventually leading to various health complications and diseases. Aging is also associated with a host of pathologies, including cancers (both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent), cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders related to cognitive impairment. Therapeutic approaches, involving hormonal equilibrium, immunomodulation, and pertinent drugs, are necessary to combat a variety of pathophysiological events for healthy living/aging. This Special Issue on the impacts of hormones on various physiological and pathophysiological aspects provides a venue for publishing both original research and review articles that enhance our understanding of fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms in health and disease.  

Dr. Pulak Manna
Guest Editor

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• hormone action and regulation
• cholesterol transporters
• steroid hormones and diverse activities
• bodily homeostasis
• reproductive capacity and function
• hormonal imbalance
• cardiovascular diseases
• healthy aging
• cancers
• neurodegenerative disorders
• pathophysiology and therapeutics