Briggs and Kings (1952) are considered pioneers in the area of epigenetic landscaping of the developing embryo of Rana pipiens. After highly productive decades of the last century to the present day, research in transdetermination and reprogramming of cells has unfolded various nuances of the embryonic transformation of cells.
These embryonic cells epigenetically carve out the structure of the animal body and some of these remain as stem cells having multipotent capacity even in the adult body. Depending on this inherent ability of the developing cells, research has been carried out in specific areas of transdifferentiation, transdetermination, and reprogramming of cells. Various techniques have also been generated using varied types of adult stem cells. The singular objective of the scientists was to trigger the transformation of one type of cell to another so that the nonfunctional cell or diseased cell is replaced by a fresh functional cell. Replacement and repair of dead or dying epithelial cells by the germ layer is a normal process in the animal body. Similarly, in all organs, there are adult stem cells that drive regeneration for routine maintenance and repair of the tissues. However, the population of stem cells vary from one tissue type to another. Molecular technologies have proved that these stem cells are truly multipotent when they are cultured in a favorable environment. Technologies have also emerged to correctly define the molecular signatures of embryonic stem cells vis a vis somatic or adult stem cells. Reports are available describing the methods of triggering transdetermination of one cell type to another related to the same genealogical map; use of multipotent adipose tissue stem cells for musculoskeletal engineering; reprogramming procedures for converting one differentiated type of cell to a pluripotent cell. In all these cases, the objective is to use these transdetermined or transdifferentiated cells in vitro as therapies in chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, neurological disorder, and many more.
The present research collection aims to discuss the molecular and cellular strategies which can be successfully implemented in molecular and cellular therapy of chronic diseases. The collection will explore stem cell biology starting from the dynamics of chromatin organization leading to niche interactions and regeneration. The latest breakthroughs in stem cell biology will be discussed from epigenetic standpoints in the body and also a model in vitro system.
This Research Topic welcomes submissions including, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Tissue stem cells in their normal and cancerous niche
- Reprogramming, regeneration, and repair
- Cell fate and pluripotency
- Disease modeling
- Clinical translation of cellular therapies including the role played by stem cells in health and disease.
Dr. Essam M Abdelalim holds holds patents related to this Research Topic, all other members of the Editorial Team declare no competing interests.
Briggs and Kings (1952) are considered pioneers in the area of epigenetic landscaping of the developing embryo of Rana pipiens. After highly productive decades of the last century to the present day, research in transdetermination and reprogramming of cells has unfolded various nuances of the embryonic transformation of cells.
These embryonic cells epigenetically carve out the structure of the animal body and some of these remain as stem cells having multipotent capacity even in the adult body. Depending on this inherent ability of the developing cells, research has been carried out in specific areas of transdifferentiation, transdetermination, and reprogramming of cells. Various techniques have also been generated using varied types of adult stem cells. The singular objective of the scientists was to trigger the transformation of one type of cell to another so that the nonfunctional cell or diseased cell is replaced by a fresh functional cell. Replacement and repair of dead or dying epithelial cells by the germ layer is a normal process in the animal body. Similarly, in all organs, there are adult stem cells that drive regeneration for routine maintenance and repair of the tissues. However, the population of stem cells vary from one tissue type to another. Molecular technologies have proved that these stem cells are truly multipotent when they are cultured in a favorable environment. Technologies have also emerged to correctly define the molecular signatures of embryonic stem cells vis a vis somatic or adult stem cells. Reports are available describing the methods of triggering transdetermination of one cell type to another related to the same genealogical map; use of multipotent adipose tissue stem cells for musculoskeletal engineering; reprogramming procedures for converting one differentiated type of cell to a pluripotent cell. In all these cases, the objective is to use these transdetermined or transdifferentiated cells in vitro as therapies in chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, neurological disorder, and many more.
The present research collection aims to discuss the molecular and cellular strategies which can be successfully implemented in molecular and cellular therapy of chronic diseases. The collection will explore stem cell biology starting from the dynamics of chromatin organization leading to niche interactions and regeneration. The latest breakthroughs in stem cell biology will be discussed from epigenetic standpoints in the body and also a model in vitro system.
This Research Topic welcomes submissions including, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Tissue stem cells in their normal and cancerous niche
- Reprogramming, regeneration, and repair
- Cell fate and pluripotency
- Disease modeling
- Clinical translation of cellular therapies including the role played by stem cells in health and disease.
Dr. Essam M Abdelalim holds holds patents related to this Research Topic, all other members of the Editorial Team declare no competing interests.
