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Innovative Approaches in Bone and Cartilage Regeneration: From Stem Cells to Organoids

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 125

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Interests: regenerative medicine; cell physiology; molecular biology; bone tissue engineering; biomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bone and cartilage regeneration represent major challenges in both basic and translational research, due to the limited intrinsic repair capacity of these tissues and the growing need for effective therapeutic strategies. Recent scientific advances have opened new avenues in tissue regeneration, combining physiological insights with innovative technologies.

We are pleased to invite you to submit your manuscript to the Special Issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology entitled "Innovative Approaches in Bone and Cartilage Regeneration: From Stem Cells to Organoids."

This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research focused on the regeneration of bone and cartilage tissues, encompassing a wide spectrum of experimental approaches. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The use of mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and already differentiated cells;
  • Organoids and 3D culture models mimicking physiological conditions;
  • The role of natural compounds, nutraceuticals, and biomaterials in promoting tissue repair;
  • Studies on the physiological mechanisms and molecular pathways underlying osteogenesis and chondrogenesis;
  • The interaction between cells and their microenvironment, including inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix remodeling.

We welcome original research articles, short communications, and reviews in the areas of molecular biology, physiology, biomaterials science, and pharmacology, particularly those exploring the regenerative potential of natural compounds, nutraceuticals, and bioactive plant-derived substances.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Maria Giovanna Rizzo
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 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. Current Issues in Molecular Biology 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 2200 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

  • bone and cartilage biology
  • physiology
  • molecular biology
  • nutraceuticals
  • regenerative medicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 1175 KB  
Article
HERVs and Epigenetic Regulators Transcriptional Expression After Chondrogenic Differentiation of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
by Ilaria Galliano, Cristina Calvi, Stefano Gambarino, Alice Dato, Anna Pau, Maddalena Dini, Anna Clemente, Carlotta Castagnoli and Massimiliano Bergallo
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48010037 (registering DOI) - 26 Dec 2025
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into various connective tissue cell types. Adipose tissue provides a rich source of MSCs (ADSCs), which can differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondroblasts. Pluripotency factors such as SOX2, NANOG, and OCT4 maintain MSC [...] Read more.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into various connective tissue cell types. Adipose tissue provides a rich source of MSCs (ADSCs), which can differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondroblasts. Pluripotency factors such as SOX2, NANOG, and OCT4 maintain MSC stemness, whereas human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and their epigenetic regulators TRIM28 and SETDB1 have been implicated in transcriptional regulation and cell fate decisions. This study investigated the transcriptional expression of HERV-H, -K, and -W, TRIM28, SETDB1, and pluripotency markers (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2) during chondrogenic differentiation of ADSCs using Real-Time PCR. Chondrogenesis was confirmed by aggrecan (ACAN) upregulation and aggrecan immunostaining. Although no statistically significant differences were observed for HERV-H, HERV-K, or HERV-W, HERV-K and HERV-W showed a trend toward decreased expression in differentiated cells, consistent with the overall shift in transcriptional profile during lineage commitment. TRIM28 expression was significantly reduced, while SETDB1 showed a decreasing trend. Among pluripotency markers, OCT4 was significantly downregulated, whereas NANOG and SOX2 remained stable. Correlation analyses revealed that in differentiated ADSCs, HERV-W expression correlated negatively with TRIM28 and positively with SETDB1, while no correlations were found for HERV-H or HERV-K. These findings suggest that specific HERV families and their epigenetic regulators may undergo coordinated modulation during chondrogenic differentiation, supporting a complex and family-specific interplay between retroelement regulation, pluripotency factors, and MSC lineage commitment. Full article
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