Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.4
3.0
Journals
ncRNA
Special Issues
Non-coding RNAs in Stem Cell Differentiation and Disease
share announcement

Non-coding RNAs in Stem Cell Differentiation and Disease

A special issue of Non-Coding RNA (ISSN 2311-553X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 August 2025) | Viewed by 2106

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sorina Dinescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: non-coding RNAs; transcriptomics; chromatin conformation; extracellular vesicles; exosomes; human adipose-derived stem cells; stemm cell differentiation; neurogenesis; adipogenesis; osteogenesis; tissue engineering; biocompatibility; biomaterials; magnetic nanoparticles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Non-coding RNAs are molecules that can regulate cell fate both during development and in disease by controlling transcriptional or post-transcriptional mechanisms. Recently, ncRNAs have increasingly been discovered to be crucial multipurpose regulators of all biological processes; therefore, they have gained potential functions as biomarkers or as therapeutic targets. Importantly, the alteration in ncRNA expression has been correlated with different diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, metabolic syndrome/diabetes, or cancer. In stem cell differentiation, these molecules can control cell fate, regulating the commitment of stem cells to a certain lineage. Originating from “the dark matter” of the genome, ncRNAs have been identified in all cell types and in intercellular communication mediated by extracellular vesicles, making them viable candidates for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets.

This Special Issue aims to establish the emerging role of ncRNAs both in stem cell differentiation and pathological conditions and to identify the regulatory functions of these molecules. This Special Issue welcomes submissions in the form of original articles, reviews, and short communications. This Special Issue will give readers insights into the latest discoveries and advances regarding ncRNA function in stem cell differentiation, as well as in disease progression and/or prevention.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sorina Dinescu
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 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. Non-Coding RNA 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 1800 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

  • ncRNAs
  • miRNAs
  • lncRNAs
  • exosomes
  • intercellular communication
  • tumour microenvironment
  • stem cell differentiation
  • biomarker

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.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

14 pages, 715 KB  
Review
Prolonged Survival with Dieting for Improved Autophagy
by Akari Fukumoto, Moeka Nakashima and Satoru Matsuda
Non-Coding RNA 2025, 11(6), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/ncrna11060077 - 4 Nov 2025
Abstract
Food is a crucial component affecting the health of individuals, which may have the potential to expand lifespan. It has been shown that a long lifespan may be related to fine-tuned autophagy. In general, suitable autophagy could play a significant role in the [...] Read more.
Food is a crucial component affecting the health of individuals, which may have the potential to expand lifespan. It has been shown that a long lifespan may be related to fine-tuned autophagy. In general, suitable autophagy could play a significant role in the anti-aging biological exertion of the host. AMPK, a member of serine and threonine kinases, could play vital roles within the autophagy signaling pathway in various cells. In addition, alterations in the kinase activity of AMPK have been shown to be connected to several pathologies of aging-related diseases. Therefore, autophagy could control the lifespan-related homeostasis within the host from cells to a body via the modification of AMPK. The design of the diet and/or nutrition targeting the AMPK would be a possibility to expand the lifespan. Some analyses of the molecular biology underlying the autophagy suggest that supplementation of accurate nutraceuticals, as well as dietary restriction, mild fasting, and/or appropriate physical exercise, could modulate AMPK signaling, which may be advantageous for life extension with the alteration of autophagy. Remarkably, it has been revealed that several non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) might also play significant roles in the regulation of autophagy. In addition, the production of some ncRNAs may be associated with the alteration of gut microbiota with certain diets. Therefore, the modulation of AMPK action with ncRNAs through choosing the relevant diet could be a therapeutic tactic for promoting longevity, which is also accompanied by a reduced risk for several aging-related diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-coding RNAs in Stem Cell Differentiation and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 1665 KB  
Review
Role of Non-Coding RNAs in White and Brown Adipose Tissue Differentiation and Development
by Lea Sleiman and Sorina Dinescu
Non-Coding RNA 2025, 11(3), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/ncrna11030030 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1350
Abstract
Adipocyte differentiation is a complex process in which pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiate and develop into mature fat cells, also known as adipocytes. This process is controlled by various transcription factors, hormones, and signaling molecules that regulate the development of these cells. [...] Read more.
Adipocyte differentiation is a complex process in which pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiate and develop into mature fat cells, also known as adipocytes. This process is controlled by various transcription factors, hormones, and signaling molecules that regulate the development of these cells. Recently, an increasing number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNAs (miRNAs), have been established to be involved in the regulation of many biological processes, including adipocyte differentiation, development, metabolism, and energy homeostasis of white and brown adipose tissue. Several in vitro and in vivo studies reported the significant role of ncRNAs in either promoting or inhibiting adipocyte differentiation into white or brown fat cells by targeting specific transcription factors and regulating the expression of key adipogenic genes. Identifying the function of ncRNAs and their subsequent targets contributes to our understanding of how these molecules can be used as potential biomarkers and tools for therapies against obesity, diabetes, and other diseases related to obesity. This could also contribute to advancements in tissue-engineering based treatments. In this review, we intended to present an up-to-date comprehensive literature overview of the role of ncRNAs, including miRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), focusing particularly on miRNAs, in regulating the differentiation and development of cells into white and brown adipose tissue. In addition, we further discuss the potential use of these molecules as biomarkers for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for future personalized treatment options for patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-coding RNAs in Stem Cell Differentiation and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop