The Function of Stromal Cells in Gastrointestinal (GI) Diseases
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 October 2026 | Viewed by 4
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a highly complex system that plays a central role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune defense. It is now increasingly recognized that intestinal stromal cells also play a critical role in maintaining normal homeostasis and coordinating responses to physiological and pathological stimuli. These stromal cells, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and mesenchymal stem cells, communicate with epithelial cells and immunity cells through secreted mediators such as cytokines, growth factors, and the extracellular matrix. In the setting of GI diseases, stromal cells undergo phenotypic and functional changes that position them as central modulators of disease processes. Although significant progress has been made in uncovering the roles of stromal cells in the intestine, the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms through which they influence GI homeostasis and disease progression remain incompletely understood.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of Biomolecules, which will focus on the function of stromal cells in the intestine, with the aim of providing novel insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of GI diseases, such as IBD and colorectal cancer, and exploring potential therapeutic targets. We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews.
Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Stromal–epithelial interactions in intestinal homeostasis;
The role of mesenchymal cells in IBD pathogenesis;
Fibroblast activation and fibrosis;
Stromal cell-derived signaling molecules;
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics of intestinal stromal cells;
ECM remodeling in inflammation and cancer.
Dr. Li Chang
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- gastrointestinal (GI) diseases
- intestinal stromal cells
- intestinal homeostasis
- cytokine
- extracellular matrix
- tissue repair
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