Exploiting Stem Cell Pathways for Immune Protection
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editor
Interests: stem cells; immunotherapy; cancer stem cells; therapy-resistance; drug discovery; pediatric cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Stem cells are rare but remarkable cells foundational for tissue development and maintenance. They also hold tremendous promise for cellular therapeutics and regenerative medicine. In parallel, the immune system can promote or impede stem cell function, while stem cells modulate and crosstalk with immune cells. Indeed, genetic pathways critical for stem cell function are alternatively deployed by the immune system to promote a spectrum of immune privilege, tolerance, evasion, and escape.
A dark side of stem cells and their regulatory pathways is that they can form the root of tumorigenesis. In many tumors, cancer stem cells serve as an elusive and unique seed for cancer origination, persistence, and therapy resistance. In parallel, recent efforts have focused on how the immune system can be harnessed to prevent tumorigenesis, progression, and relapse. Unfortunately, cancer stem cells and other cells exploiting stem cell pathways can escape immune control. Indeed, recent evidence indicates that cancer arises only by evading immunosurveillance.
In this Special Issue, we will explore the critical connections between stem cells, their regulatory pathways, and how these intact with the immune system. Conversely, we will examine how these mechanisms are corrupted to produce cancer stem cells alongside a failing immunosurveillance system. Finally, we will evaluate how stem cell pathways protect against immunity and how this might be exploited for therapeutic purposes.
Dr. John M. Perry
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- stem cell
- immune tolerance
- immune modulation
- autoimmunity
- immunosuppression
- immunotherapy
- immune escape
- immune evasion
- immune privilege
- stemness
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