Molecular Biology of Stem Cells

Dear Colleagues,

Stem cells are at the center of interest in modern biology because of their importance in developmental and regenerative processes and potential applications in regenerative medicine. The full understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the stemness and directed cell differentiation towards a particular cell fate have key importance for the understanding of the plasticity of embryo development, functioning of young and adult organisms, numerous pathologies including cancer, aging, regeneration processes, and their biomedical applications, which will revolutionize the field of medicine. The emerging subjects in stem cell biology and their medical applicability are the effects of metabolism, the actin cytoskeleton, and different organelles, such as mitochondria, the ER, and Golgi apparatus, on the stemness and differentiation potential of stem cells. Other emerging subjects include the therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived vesicles such as exososmes, which contain various regulatory and signaling factors, and finding out how these stem cells epigenetically reprogram somatic cells in different organs and tissues.

This Special Issue entitled “Molecular Biology of Stem Cells” is focused on processes and molecular mechanisms governing stemness, different states of stem cell potency, and stem cells’ directed differentiation into particular cell types. We would like to focus this Special Issue on the processes that might have an impact on the medical applications of various stem cells and their products and derivatives. The subject of medical application is especially important due to the many cases of inappropriate use of these “miraculous” cells in pseudo-medical treatments, which are either ineffective or dangerous for patients. Only a solid understanding of the details of the molecular processes involved in the regenerative capacities of particular stem cell types will allow the development of targeted, safe, and effective medical applications. We encourage submitting original articles, review articles, perspectives/opinions, and methodology articles about all types of stem and progenitor cells, their propagation, differentiation, and potential use in medicine.

Dr. Jacek Z. Kubiak
Prof. Dr. Malgorzata Kloc
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• embryonic stem cells
• adult stem cells
• induced pluripotent stem cells
• differentiation
• adipogenesis
• neurogenesis
• osteogenesis
• chondrogenesis
• mesenchymal stem cells
• hematopoietic stem cells
• neural stem cells
• epithelial stem cells
• skin stem cells
• pluripotency
• totipotency
• unipotency
• progenitor cells