Epigenetic Regulation of Stem Cells Ageing in Health and Disease

Dear Colleagues,

Stem cell function drives normal organismal function, development, and growth; as such, their roles in ageing, as well as in health and disease, are similarly critical. Understanding the mechanisms associated with stem cell functional decline, which accompanies ageing processes, both physiologically and pathologically, will lead to a greater understanding of the tissue-specific, as well as the overall changes at the systemic level that contribute to organismal ageing. Furthermore, these mechanisms are likely to underpin many of the diseases of ageing, in fact stem cell involvement has already been demonstrated in many diseases. The underlying mechanisms of ageing and disease, in relation to stem cells, are of particular interest in the wake of recent discoveries underlining the importance of epigenetic regulation of ageing processes, particularly when viewed in the context of development of novel therapeutic interventions.

The rate of ageing can be affected by multiple factors, both intrinsic and environmental, that affect stem cells directly or indirectly resulting in far reaching and long lasting effects leading to changes disease occurrence or progression. Many of the diseases regarded as increasing threats, particularly to the western societies, are caused or accelerated by stem cell ageing. It is therefore timely to take a close look at the mechanisms behind this. With epigenetic modifications leading the way as candidates for directing or initiating these changes it is pertinent to investigate these modifications and determine their influence of the development and progression of disease, as well as their role in directing stem cell function and ageing.

The aim of this Special Issue is to summarize and expand the current knowledge on the epigenetic regulation of stem cells and the influence of these modifications on the incidence and progression of diseases associated with ageing. Furthermore, this Special Issue seeks to open the discussion on recent developments, focusing on the role of epigenetics in the regulation of stem cells ageing in health and disease, with particular emphasis on changes associated with ageing.

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• stem cells
• ageing
• epigenetics
• metabolism
• health and disease