Dear Colleagues,

Adipose stroma comprises several distinct populations of mesenchymal fibroblasts in fat tissue. Adipose stromal cells (ASCs) differ in distinct fat depots in terms of their lineages, immunophenotypes, differentiation and proliferation potentials, as well as functions. ASCs have been implicated both in promoting tissue regeneration and aggravating disease progression. The former encompasses the efforts to use ASCs for injury repair as stem cells and/or as cells that contribute to healing by secreting trophic factors and suppressing the immune response. The latter is related to the contribution of ASCs to fibroblasts that can aggravate fibrotic and degenerative conditions and contribute to tumor stroma and cancer progression. This special issue will include reviews and research articles on the topic, “Adipose stroma trafficking and signaling”. It will gather the latest knowledge on the physiological conditions that lead to ASC mobilization and migration from adipose tissue. It will also cover the mechanisms mediating ASC trafficking and the positive and negative roles that ASCs play in pathology.

Articles are expected to address but are not restricted to the following topics: 

- ASC heterogeneity in different species and methods for its analysis

- ASC mobilization within systemic circulation in various physiological conditions

- Mechanisms underlying ASC migration

- Applications of ASC mobilization induction for regenerative medicine

- The use of ASCs as tissue-specific delivery vectors

- ASC differentiation into cancer-associated fibroblasts and fibro-adipose progenitors

- Mechanisms underlying ASC-mediated disease pathogenesis

- Approaches to therapeutic targeting of ASCs and their potential applications

Prof. Mikhail G. Kolonin
Guest Editor