Adipose Stem Cell Biology

Dear Colleagues,

Adipose stem/stromal cells (ASC)/mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue are a very attractive source for use in stem cell therapy due to their characteristics, trophic activity, immunomodulatory properties and ease in obtaining. More scientific evidence and an understanding of adipose tissue stem cell biology are needed to ensure safe and effective medical treatments. Challenges remain and little is known about 1). the mechanisms that initiate and control adipose stem cell divisions (symmetric and asymmetric) and the quiescent state 2). internal and external factors that support the maintenance of “stemness” and loss of “stemness” 3). stem cell niche involvement in ASC biology 4). physical factors influencing ASC metabolism and biology 5). biological response of ASCs on internal and external factors (differentiation, growth factor production, exosome and microRNA secretion, stem cell divisions, cell cycle, metabolism, mitochondria activity, cell death, neoplastic changes).

The aim of this Special Issue is to collate research articles and reviews that elucidates the characteristics and biology (cell markers, secretome, microRNAs, differentiation potential, symmetric/ asymmetric cell divisions, programmed cell death etc.) of adipose stem cells that originate from different origins (also from different origins (i.e., subcutaneous /visceral/epicardial)). Additional information is requested on the mechanisms of differentiation/death/neoplastic transformation/cell division and the factors determining the “biological fate” of adipose stem cells.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

- comparative studies showing the efficiency of ASC isolation, culture and differentiation versus mesenchymal stem cells, including characterization of new candidate markers of high potential or high self-renew ability 
- state-of-the-art studies on the differentiation protocols of ASC in the context of improving post-transplant survival and the efficiency of differentiation into specialized cells 
- mechanisms of the signaling pathways and cascade response to external factors with respect to “biological fate” undertaken by ASC
- understanding the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death of ASC that will improve the safety and effectiveness of ASC treatment and help to achieve greater therapeutic effects
- bioactive factors /extracellular vesicles / microRNA released by ASC and their therapeutic properties
- influence of physical factors (electromagnetic field, vibration, acoustic waves, light) on the biology of ASC, especially on differentiation, cell death and neoplastic transformation 
- understanding stem cell divisions of ASC (internal / external factors) and methods of visualization and factors influencing (such as niche) the symmetric/asymmetric stem cell divisions

Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Banaś-Ząbczyk

Guest Editor

Manuscripts should be submitted via our online editorial system at https://imr.propub.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to start your submission. Manuscripts can be submitted now or up until the deadline. All papers will go through peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published in the journal (as soon as accepted) and meanwhile listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, reviews as well as short communications are preferred. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office to announce on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts will be thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. Please visit the Instruction for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) in this open access journal is 2500 USD. Submitted manuscripts should be well formatted in good English.