Dear Colleagues,

Ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is defined as the paradoxical exacerbation of cellular dysfunction and death. IRI occurs in a wide range of organs including the brain, spinal cord, heart, kidney, gut, and skeletal muscle. It can involve not only the ischaemic organ itself, but also the induction of systemic damage to distant organs, thereby potentially causing multi-system organ failure or death. Although there have been concerted efforts to develop potential treatments for IRI, the molecular and cellular mechanisms in different organs are not yet fully understood. So far, many researchers have investigated IRI in diverse organs of various experimental animals using different methods of blood vessel occlusion and for different times. Generally, IRI involves the mechanisms of oxidative stress, inflammation, and excitotoxicity. However, these mechanisms are different according to the specific organ. For example, blood-brain barrier damage is one of the mechanisms in the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, IRI-related mechanisms should be investigated in diverse organs so that organ-specific protection and/or treatments can be developed. In this context, the title of the current special issue is: “Mechanisms of protection and/or therapy for IRI in the brain, spinal cord, heart, liver, and kidney”.

Dr. Moo-Ho Won
Guest Editor