Stemness and ROS: Redox Signaling and Regulation in Stem Cell Biology

In cellular biology, the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has evolved from being perceived merely as harmful metabolic byproducts to pivotal regulators of stem cell fate. Excessive ROS levels are known to cause DNA damage and cell death. However, recent findings have demonstrated the complex interactions between ROS, metabolism, and redox signaling pathways, which are critical in steering both the self-renewal and differentiation processes in stem cells. This delicate balance is essential for proper embryogenesis and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis across an organism’s lifespan. It is well-documented that maintaining proper ROS levels is crucial for managing stem cell identity, proliferation, and differentiation, primarily through strengthened antioxidant pathways that are vital to preserving stemness.

This Research Topic seeks to to enhance our understanding of how ROS modulation affects stem cell behavior, examining both the protective and differentiation-inducing roles of ROS under a variety of physiological and pathological situations. The aim is to elucidate the mechanisms by which ROS and redox signaling impact stem cell homeostasis and lineage determination, and to explore their implications for developing effective stem cell therapies. One of the significant challenges remains the practical application of this knowledge in clinical settings, particularly identifying and manipulating the specific triggers and the conditions under which redox switches occur, to open new avenues in treatment strategies.

To gather further insights into the complex regulation of stem cell functions related to redox dynamics, this Research Topic welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Redox signaling in embryonic and adult stem cells

o Redox homeostasis's impact on stem cell metabolism

o ROS regulation in cancer stem cells

o Systems for redox regulation in in vitro stem cell expansion

o Exploring the redox-modifying potentials of stem cell therapies

We accept different article types including Original Research, Reviews and Mini-Reviews, Brief Research Reports, and Perspectives. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: ROS, redox signaling, stem cell, stem cell metabolism, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.