About this Research Topic
Cellular reprogramming is the process whereby one cell type can be converted to another, this includes; directed differentiation, induced pluripotency and trans differentiation. Understanding the mechanisms underlying normal cell and tissue development has provided insight to how these cell-type conversions arise and enabled the development potential autologous cell-replacement therapies.
One of the best characterized examples of lineage conversion can be see between the endoderm-derived liver and pancreas. Hepatocytes can give rise to -cells while pancreatic exocrine cells can generate hepatocytes. These models, and other examples of cellular differentiation and cell type switching, are being explored as a means to developing strategies for cell replacement in disease.
The potential of cellular reprograming to generate cells of therapeutic potential was realized before the discovery of induced pluripotency which has since dominated in the field of regenerative medicine. Recent advances in the characterisation of further examples of cell-type switching during development and disease have revived an interest in transdifferentiation, as well as more general cellular differentiation, as part of a strategy to develop novel cell-replacement therapies.
The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight novel and promising advances in the field of cellular reprogramming and differentiation that have potential utility in the design and development of cell replacement therapies. Areas to be covered by this topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Cell-type conversions occurring during development, tissue damage or disease
• Therapeutic strategies employing cellular reprogramming for cell replacement
• Proliferation and differentiation of Progenitor Cells
• Lineage tracing techniques
• Mechanisms underlying reprogramming (e.g. chromatin remodeling)
We welcome both Primary Research and Review Articles on any of these topics.
One of the best characterized examples of lineage conversion can be see between the endoderm-derived liver and pancreas. Hepatocytes can give rise to -cells while pancreatic exocrine cells can generate hepatocytes. These models, and other examples of cellular differentiation and cell type switching, are being explored as a means to developing strategies for cell replacement in disease.
The potential of cellular reprograming to generate cells of therapeutic potential was realized before the discovery of induced pluripotency which has since dominated in the field of regenerative medicine. Recent advances in the characterisation of further examples of cell-type switching during development and disease have revived an interest in transdifferentiation, as well as more general cellular differentiation, as part of a strategy to develop novel cell-replacement therapies.
The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight novel and promising advances in the field of cellular reprogramming and differentiation that have potential utility in the design and development of cell replacement therapies. Areas to be covered by this topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Cell-type conversions occurring during development, tissue damage or disease
• Therapeutic strategies employing cellular reprogramming for cell replacement
• Proliferation and differentiation of Progenitor Cells
• Lineage tracing techniques
• Mechanisms underlying reprogramming (e.g. chromatin remodeling)
We welcome both Primary Research and Review Articles on any of these topics.
Keywords: Transdifferentiation, lineage reprogramming, cellular therapy, regenerative medicine, metaplasia
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.
