Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of growth factors, which possess multifunctional proteins with a wide variety of effects, including cellular proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation. FGFs are also critical in the tissue response to injury and repair as shown in murine models. FGFs signaling has demonstrated cardioprotective effects following an ischemic injury to the heart and is important for epithelial repairs in the lung and in wound healing. In addition, FGFs have been reported to promote neurogenesis/ neuroprotection and prolong survival in several nervous system disease models. Furthermore, recent studies showed that FGFs also play an important role in treating aging-associated diseases. At the cellular level, the secretion of FGFs plays a dual role in modulating fundamental cellular processes such as metabolism, proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation of stem cells.
Stem cell-based tissue engineering has become more and more appealing to solve clinical challenges, including COVID-19. The commonly used stem cells are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MScs) such as dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Current evidence showed that tissue regeneration is achieved by boosting the physiological healing processes. At the molecular level, cell-specific responses are triggered and the scaffold integration with the surrounding is enhanced. It has been shown that stem cells could ‘sense’ the local environment and thus proliferate and differentiate accordingly. When it comes to the application in regenerative pharmacology and aging prevention, it is essential to provide the stem cells with appropriate signaling to achieve the desired tissue engineering. Recent studies indicated that FGFs might be good candidates to create a favorable microenvironment for stem cell proliferation, differentiation as well as tissue regeneration. Despite the importance of knowing how to regenerate tissue with stem cells, it is also important to know ‘why’. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of how FGFs strategies affect the stem cells and tissue regeneration will accelerate the tissue remodeling/regeneration progression and minimize the graft‐versus‐host reactions (immune and fibrotic responses).
In this Research Topic, we will focus on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of FGFs and/or stem cells, ranging from basic research to clinical translational studies. We encourage authors to submit Original Research, Review, Opinion, and Perspective articles, including the following subtopics, but not limited to:
• The roles and pharmacological effects of FGFs and/or stem cells in biological processes, from organogenesis to angiogenesis.
• The applications of FGFs and/or stem cells in heart development and regeneration and the associated pharmacological effects and mechanisms.
• The potential roles of FGF and/or stem cells in treating nervous system diseases.
• The roles and pharmacological effects of FGF and/or stem cells in preventing aging-associated diseases.
• The roles and pharmacological effects of FGFs and/or stem cells in early development, organogenesis, musculoskeletal biology, nervous system, intracellular signaling, and emerging research areas.
• Current status and future developments of FGF and/or stem cells, especially the pharmacology of FGF and stem cells.
• Optimization of type and usage of growth factors (including FGFs) to provide the stem cell niche with specific biological stimuli that lead to specific differentiation of iPSCs and MSCs.
• Controllable release system and scaffolding biomaterials for the delivery of FGFs in stem cells based interventions.
• Experimental, pre-clinical, and clinical studies on the applications of FGFs and/or stem cells.
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of growth factors, which possess multifunctional proteins with a wide variety of effects, including cellular proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation. FGFs are also critical in the tissue response to injury and repair as shown in murine models. FGFs signaling has demonstrated cardioprotective effects following an ischemic injury to the heart and is important for epithelial repairs in the lung and in wound healing. In addition, FGFs have been reported to promote neurogenesis/ neuroprotection and prolong survival in several nervous system disease models. Furthermore, recent studies showed that FGFs also play an important role in treating aging-associated diseases. At the cellular level, the secretion of FGFs plays a dual role in modulating fundamental cellular processes such as metabolism, proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation of stem cells.
Stem cell-based tissue engineering has become more and more appealing to solve clinical challenges, including COVID-19. The commonly used stem cells are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MScs) such as dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Current evidence showed that tissue regeneration is achieved by boosting the physiological healing processes. At the molecular level, cell-specific responses are triggered and the scaffold integration with the surrounding is enhanced. It has been shown that stem cells could ‘sense’ the local environment and thus proliferate and differentiate accordingly. When it comes to the application in regenerative pharmacology and aging prevention, it is essential to provide the stem cells with appropriate signaling to achieve the desired tissue engineering. Recent studies indicated that FGFs might be good candidates to create a favorable microenvironment for stem cell proliferation, differentiation as well as tissue regeneration. Despite the importance of knowing how to regenerate tissue with stem cells, it is also important to know ‘why’. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of how FGFs strategies affect the stem cells and tissue regeneration will accelerate the tissue remodeling/regeneration progression and minimize the graft‐versus‐host reactions (immune and fibrotic responses).
In this Research Topic, we will focus on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of FGFs and/or stem cells, ranging from basic research to clinical translational studies. We encourage authors to submit Original Research, Review, Opinion, and Perspective articles, including the following subtopics, but not limited to:
• The roles and pharmacological effects of FGFs and/or stem cells in biological processes, from organogenesis to angiogenesis.
• The applications of FGFs and/or stem cells in heart development and regeneration and the associated pharmacological effects and mechanisms.
• The potential roles of FGF and/or stem cells in treating nervous system diseases.
• The roles and pharmacological effects of FGF and/or stem cells in preventing aging-associated diseases.
• The roles and pharmacological effects of FGFs and/or stem cells in early development, organogenesis, musculoskeletal biology, nervous system, intracellular signaling, and emerging research areas.
• Current status and future developments of FGF and/or stem cells, especially the pharmacology of FGF and stem cells.
• Optimization of type and usage of growth factors (including FGFs) to provide the stem cell niche with specific biological stimuli that lead to specific differentiation of iPSCs and MSCs.
• Controllable release system and scaffolding biomaterials for the delivery of FGFs in stem cells based interventions.
• Experimental, pre-clinical, and clinical studies on the applications of FGFs and/or stem cells.