Molecular Morphology and Function of Stromal Cells
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 39105
Special Issue Editor
Interests: anatomy; histology; morphological and functional aspects of stromal cells; endothelial cell biology; angiogenesis; cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue fibrosis; pathogenesis of autoimmune, chronic inflammatory and connective tissue diseases; animal models of human disorders.
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
I am very glad to announce a Special Issue entitled "Molecular Morphology and Function of Stromal Cells" that is being prepared for the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
The term “stromal cells” refers to a highly heterogeneous class of connective tissue cells that build the infrastructure of any organ and fulfill a variety of fundamental roles in health and disease. Embedded into the framework of stromal cells are parenchymal cells, which define the specific function of an organ. Distinctive populations of stromal cells with different morphologies and functions include i) fibroblasts, pericytes, and telocytes that are widely distributed throughout various organ systems, ii) cells with stemness features such as mesenchymal stem/stromal cells and adipose-tissue-derived stem/stromal cells, and iii) stromal cells specifically restricted to some organs, as interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract muscularis and fibroblastic reticular cells in secondary lymphoid organs, among others.
In recent years, there have been substantial advances in our understanding of stromal cell biology, especially the molecular signals underlying their contribution to several biological processes in different tissues, including tissue morphogenesis and development, maintenance of local tissue homeostasis, tissue injury, regeneration, immune responses, cancer, and other pathologies. Increasing evidence indeed indicates that stromal cells are leading actors in shaping the organization, integrity, and dynamics of their own microenvironment, but their phenotype and functions also are tightly dependent on the specific tissue microenvironment where they reside.
Expanding our knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the interactions of stromal cells among themselves and with neighbor parenchymal cells or tissue-resident stem cells in physiological and pathophysiological contexts is crucial to gain insights into their potential clinical relevance as therapeutic targets or tools in the translational field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Outstanding experts interested in this Special Issue are very welcome to submit original manuscripts and reviews dealing with any of the abovementioned aspects of stromal cell biology.
Dr. Mirko Manetti
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- stromal cells
- fibroblasts
- telocytes
- pericytes
- mesenchymal stem/stromal cells
- adipose tissue-derived stem/stromal cells
- intercellular communication
- molecular signaling
- tissue homeostasis
- therapeutic targets
- tissue engineering
- regenerative medicine
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