ColoNet: Profiling Molecular and Cellular Networks in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Dear Colleagues,

There is a tight balance among the immune system, the intestinal epithelial surface and the commensal microbiota to defend against potential pathogens while preventing the development of chronic inflammatory conditions. The dysregulation of these tightly controlled mechanisms can lead to a vicious cycle and chronic inflammation, and is considered to be an underlying cause of both inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the cues that link these components are only partially understood. Although the clinical manifestations of such diseases have been explicitly described, the etiology and pathogenesis of IBD and CRC have not yet been fully elucidated, and no curative therapeutic regimen has been developed to date. A precise description of these dynamic processes is a prerequisite for new interventions and the development of effective treatments for these diseases.

This Special Issue will focus on the molecular and cellular interplay from the mucosa to the intraepithelial layer, as well as the surrounding niches, such as the lamina propria, mesenteric adipose tissue and lymph nodes. Special interest is given to cytokines, metabolites, and microbial interactions from different compartments of the gut and the critical roles that they play in disease development. Recent technological advances allow the spatial and temporal profiling of molecular and cellular entities along the gastrointestinal tract and can, therefore, provide us with new insights into the pathogenesis of IBD and CRC. This issue will also include potentially new concepts derived from in vitro organoids, patient-derived material, or in vivo, utilizing murine model systems. Our vision is that the investigated molecular and cellular networks in the gastrointestinal tract will lay the foundation for translational approaches to combat IBD and CRC.

Prof. Dr. Samuel Huber
Dr. Penelope Felipe Pelczar
Dr. Lorenz Adlung
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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.