Unraveling Cell–Cell and Cell–Matrix Interactions: Novel Morphological and Molecular Insights
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: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 103
Special Issue Editor
Interests: histology; immunofluorescence; pathology; immunology; biotechnology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The molecular architecture and integrity of cell–cell and cell–matrix protein interaction systems are critical for maintaining tissue function and homeostasis. The Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex (DGC), consisting of three distinct subcomplexes: the sarcoplasmic subcomplex (formed by dystrophine, distrobrevin, and syntropin complex); the distroglycan subcomplex and the sarcoglycan subcomplex, working synergistically with the vinculin–talin–integrin system, plays a crucial role in muscle tissue interactions and has long been recognized for maintaining muscle stability. Recent studies, however, reveal that these proteins also contribute significantly to cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions in a variety of non-muscle tissues. Advances in high-resolution imaging, proteomics and molecular techniques have provided new insights into the structural composition, signaling mechanisms and functional dynamics of these complexes.
In this Special Issue, we will collect cutting-edge research on the morphological and molecular characterization of interaction protein complexes. We call for submissions that deepen the research into topics such as the structural and functional analysis of DGC as well as the vinculin–talin–integrin system in muscle and non-muscle tissues; new imaging strategies for visualizing cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix communications; the molecular mechanisms that regulate the interactions between these proteins and their role in cell signaling and translational studies focused on using these complexes for therapeutic intervention in various pathologies.
Dr. José Freni
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- DGC
- sarcoglycans
- cell–cell interactions
- cell–matrix interactions
- morphological analysis
- molecular analysis
- molecular pathogenesis
- translational studies
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