Molecular Mechanisms of Stem Cell-Mediated Tendon Regeneration: From Signaling Pathways to Therapeutic Applications
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 914
Special Issue Editor
Interests: tendon; tissue engineering; regenerative medicine; amniotic epithelial stem cells; adipose-derived stem cells; 3D bioengineering scaffolds; tendon regeneration; immunomodulation; in vitro models; mechanotransduction; electrospinning
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Tendon injuries present significant clinical challenges due to this tissue’s limited intrinsic healing capacity and predisposition toward fibrotic repair rather than functional regeneration. While stem cell-based therapeutic approaches offer promising solutions, their efficacy depends on complex molecular mechanisms including tenogenic differentiation pathways, immune modulation cascades, and vascular integration processes that remain incompletely characterized.
This Special Issue addresses the fundamental molecular basis of stem cell-mediated tendon repair through advanced tissue engineering methodologies. Central focus will be placed on 3D engineered microenvironments and scaffold systems that accurately recapitulate native tendon architecture, enabling the precise investigation of signaling networks, gene expression profiles, and protein interactions governing cellular behavior. These platforms facilitate the mechanistic exploration of paracrine signaling cascades and extracellular matrix remodeling processes that cannot be adequately studied using conventional 2D culture systems.
This issue will emphasize studies on intercellular crosstalk mechanisms, scaffold-guided molecular differentiation pathways, and advanced genomic/proteomic characterization of tendon-specific regenerative networks, providing essential molecular insights for translating stem cell therapies into clinical applications.
Dr. Mohammad El Khatib
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- regenerative medicine
- tissue engineering
- stem cells
- scaffolds
- 3D in vitro models
- tenogenic differentiation
- tendon regeneration
- molecular mechanisms
- intercellular crosstalk
- paracrine signaling
- extracellular matrix remodeling
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