Non-coding RNA Regulation of Stem Cell Regenerative Mechanisms: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Tissues and Organs".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2023) | Viewed by 6989
Special Issue Editors
Interests: regenerative medicine; mesenchymal stem cells; amniotic stem cells tissue engineering; stem cell reparative mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: clinical nephrology; hemodialysis; kidney transplantation; dialysis; chronic renal failure; transplantation; renal; kidney; chronic kidney failure; peritoneal dialysis; renal disease; kidney disease; fibrosis; transplant immunology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The ability to self-renew or differentiate is innate in stem cells (SCs), which are special cells. Through complex signaling networks, both fate decisions are tightly controlled at the molecular level. The function of transcription factors was assumed to be mostly responsible for the regulation of signaling networks promoting self-renewal or differentiation.
In addition, many kinds of non-coding RNA have been demonstrated to have a role in the regulation of stem cell renewal and pluripotency, which in turn affects embryogenesis and development. Among these, the evidence that microRNA and long non-coding RNA are important contributors is very strong. Similar to this, various varieties of non-coding RNA may similarly alter the transcriptional networks that control pluripotency and lineage differentiation.
Circular RNAs, another class of non-coding RNA, have recently been linked to the regulation of human pluripotency. Since they differ from linear RNAs and take on a closed shape, circular RNAs are a subclass of non-coding RNA. It is acknowledged that circular RNA may influence the control of gene expression. According to reports, miRNAs have a higher affinity for binding to circular RNAs than for their natural target mRNA. Circular RNA can therefore act like a sponge to absorb miRNA and lessen their impact on endogenous targets.
However, other regulatory layers with crucial roles in SC fate decisions have emerged, including short noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such vault RNAs and their post-transcriptional modifications (the epitranscriptome). New research indicates that short nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), particularly in tumor cells, are actively involved in cell proliferation; nevertheless, it is unclear what functions these RNAs play in stem cells.
RNA post-transcriptional changes frequently affect how RNA is recognized, processed, and translated. Through structural changes and specialized RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) known as writers, readers, and erasers, RNA post-transcriptional modifications affect RNA. The epitranscriptome coordinates particular functional tasks via SC-context RBPs. Different strategies are now taking advantage of small ncRNA post-transcriptional alterations to speed up SC translational experiments.
The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight new findings regarding new molecular mechanisms involving non-coding RNA in the regulation of stem cell regenerative properties in order to provide a comprehensive view of advances, challenges, and perspectives in this field.
The topics of this Special Issue will include (but are not limited to) the involvement in SC biology of:
- Micro RNA;
- Noncoding RNA;
- PIWI-interacting RNA
- Promoter-associated RNA;
- Small nuclear RNA;
- Small nucleolar RNA;
- Vault RNA;
- Epigenetical regulation in general.
Prof. Dr. Fabio Sallustio
Prof. Dr. Gianluigi Zaza
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 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. 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.
Keywords
- micro RNA
- noncoding RNA
- PIWI-interacting RNA
- promoter-associated RNA
- small nuclear RNA
- small nucleolar RNA
- vault RNA
- epigenetical regulation in general
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.