About this Research Topic
Stromal cells comprise a heterogeneous population of immune and non-immune cells in varying proportions across organs and tissues. They support tissue homeostasis, modulate their local micro-environment and are known to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. Therefore, the cross-talk between parenchymal cells of different organs, such as between the epithelial lining in various tissues with the surrounding stroma, has emerged as a central research effort in recent years, particularly when inflammation is involved.
Inflammatory conditions have been reported to acutely and chronically modulate the tissue micro-environment. In line with this, inflamed epithelia have been shown to engage in reciprocal molecular interplay with adjacent stromal cells including various inflammatory cells (i.e. innate and adaptive immune cells), (myo)fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes and perivascular smooth muscle cells. Importantly, different soluble factors, including cytokines and exosomes secreted by the epithelial compartment, shape the surrounding stroma that, in turn, affects the outcome of the inflammatory response. While resolution of inflammation restores tissue homeostasis, an aberrant chronic inflammatory state might provide the foundation for various pathological conditions, including cancer. Despite extensive research efforts, the role of stromal compartments in driving the transition from acute to chronic inflammation, as well as the progression to cancer in certain individuals, is still not fully elucidated. Thus, identification of the specific factors involved in stromal reprogramming will have a major clinical impact: first, by developing novel prognostic biomarkers and, second, by unraveling new targets with therapeutic benefit for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer.
In this Research Topic, we aim to assemble a collection of manuscripts that address the following important questions: Which molecular factors are the primary drivers that shape local microenvironment in chronic inflammatory conditions and cancer? What is the impact of identical genetic signatures in the epithelial compartment on the epithelial-stromal crosstalk? Which oncogenic events in the incipient neoplastic cells modulate the surrounding micro-environment and what are the mechanistic insights?
Additionally, the recent acknowledgment of the central role played by microbiota in host homeostasis raises intriguing questions including how does microbiota reprogram the stroma in various chronic inflammatory and cancerous settings? What are the genetic and epigenetic alterations occurring per se in the stromal cells during persistent inflammation and in different cancerous settings? What is the clinical outcome of stromal reprogramming in distinct contexts?
We welcome contributions in the form of Original Research, Brief Research Report Systematic Review, Review, Mini Review, Methods, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Case Report, Data Report, Brief Research Report, Opinion, Technology and Code that cover the following themes:
- Mechanistic insights in stromal reprogramming in chronic inflammatory conditions and cancer
- The role of stroma in the transition from acute to chronic inflammation and cancer
- Novel methodological approaches and advances in software tools improving phenotypic and molecular characterization of the stroma
- Single cell RNA sequencing
- Clinical translation of stromal reprogramming in chronic inflammatory conditions and cancer
- Case presentation of patients diagnosed with inflammation-associated cancer
- Immune monitoring
Inflammatory conditions have been reported to acutely and chronically modulate the tissue micro-environment. In line with this, inflamed epithelia have been shown to engage in reciprocal molecular interplay with adjacent stromal cells including various inflammatory cells (i.e. innate and adaptive immune cells), (myo)fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes and perivascular smooth muscle cells. Importantly, different soluble factors, including cytokines and exosomes secreted by the epithelial compartment, shape the surrounding stroma that, in turn, affects the outcome of the inflammatory response. While resolution of inflammation restores tissue homeostasis, an aberrant chronic inflammatory state might provide the foundation for various pathological conditions, including cancer. Despite extensive research efforts, the role of stromal compartments in driving the transition from acute to chronic inflammation, as well as the progression to cancer in certain individuals, is still not fully elucidated. Thus, identification of the specific factors involved in stromal reprogramming will have a major clinical impact: first, by developing novel prognostic biomarkers and, second, by unraveling new targets with therapeutic benefit for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer.
In this Research Topic, we aim to assemble a collection of manuscripts that address the following important questions: Which molecular factors are the primary drivers that shape local microenvironment in chronic inflammatory conditions and cancer? What is the impact of identical genetic signatures in the epithelial compartment on the epithelial-stromal crosstalk? Which oncogenic events in the incipient neoplastic cells modulate the surrounding micro-environment and what are the mechanistic insights?
Additionally, the recent acknowledgment of the central role played by microbiota in host homeostasis raises intriguing questions including how does microbiota reprogram the stroma in various chronic inflammatory and cancerous settings? What are the genetic and epigenetic alterations occurring per se in the stromal cells during persistent inflammation and in different cancerous settings? What is the clinical outcome of stromal reprogramming in distinct contexts?
We welcome contributions in the form of Original Research, Brief Research Report Systematic Review, Review, Mini Review, Methods, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Case Report, Data Report, Brief Research Report, Opinion, Technology and Code that cover the following themes:
- Mechanistic insights in stromal reprogramming in chronic inflammatory conditions and cancer
- The role of stroma in the transition from acute to chronic inflammation and cancer
- Novel methodological approaches and advances in software tools improving phenotypic and molecular characterization of the stroma
- Single cell RNA sequencing
- Clinical translation of stromal reprogramming in chronic inflammatory conditions and cancer
- Case presentation of patients diagnosed with inflammation-associated cancer
- Immune monitoring
Keywords: Stroma, Immune Cells, Reprogramming, Epithelial-Stroma Crosstalk, Inflammation, Microbiota, Cancer
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