Responses of cells to stress include a wide range of molecular processes, induced by microenvironmental changes, which damage the structure and function of macromolecules. Depending on the kind, the severity, and the duration of stress encountered, cells respond by modulating signaling pathways leading to repair, to adaption, or to cell death. Such different choices have crucial effects on tissue homeostasis. Among cellular responses to stress, a prolonged inflammation may occur, ultimately leading to several pathological conditions, including cancer.

This special issue focuses on the regulation of life or death decisions under stressful conditions.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Types of stress:
  • Metabolic stress (including pathogens and toxins)
  • Oxidative stress (including hypoxic stress)
  • Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress
  • Age-related stress
  • Inflammatory stress
• Cell responses: death or survival:
  • Apoptosis
  • Necroptosis
  • Autophagy
  • Pyroptosis
• Cell death and survival pathways in cancer