Current Advances in Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Tissue Regeneration

Dear Colleagues,

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in a transformative therapeutic approach in regenerative medicine, owing to their capacity to differentiate into diverse tissue types and their immunomodulatory properties. Their broad application and cellular plasticity have drawn strong attention from clinical research and have been extensively investigated in clinical applications, including autoimmune diseases, inflammatory conditions, neurodegenerative disorders, and orthopedic injuries, as well as their source of variety. MSCs are broadly distributed throughout the body, residing in most tissues and predominantly associated with perivascular microenvironments. These cells possess marked cellular plasticity and interact with neighboring cells, thereby influencing immune responses through direct cell–cell contact and the secretion of immunoregulatory substances that facilitate tissue repair and accelerate the healing of injured organs.

Recent technological advancements have significantly enhanced the potential for the clinical use of distinct populations derived from the various tissues. However, tissue-specific disease mechanisms and signal transduction pathways through which they mediate therapeutic effects, as well as the most effective strategies for optimizing their regenerative capabilities, remain incompletely elucidated. Inconsistent outcomes are compounded by donor-to-donor variability and MSC heterogeneity, which are influenced by factors such as donor age, health status, and tissue of origin. Furthermore, obstacles to cell survival, engraftment, and the regulation of in vivo differentiation continue to impede the clinical efficacy of MSC-based therapies. Consequently, there is a pressing need for sustained research and for the establishment of a dedicated platform to disseminate novel scientific findings in this critical area.

This Special Issue seeks to showcase the latest developments in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) biology, with a focus on tissue regeneration, cellular plasticity, and therapeutic advances. We encourage submissions that investigate innovative strategies to augment MSC-based therapies, including biomaterial scaffolds, genetic and pharmacological priming, and engineered MSC derivatives to enhance regenerative efficacy. Studies that clarify the molecular mechanisms governing MSC function, encompassing signaling networks, microenvironmental interactions, and epigenetic regulation, are especially welcome, as are investigations into the MSC secretome (including exosomes and extracellular vesicles) across disease models such as osteoarthritis, bone repair, cardiovascular, and neurological regeneration.

Dr. Dae Joong Kim
Guest Editor

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