As a principal structural and endocrine organ, the bone develops from intramembranous or endochondral ossification and undergoes constant remodeling throughout life. It also possesses an inherent capacity for self-repair, yet this can be overwhelmed under major trauma, or substantially compromised by a myriad of degenerative or inflammatory events in aging and pathologies, leading to unhealed fractures, osteoporosis and other bone disorders.
In the past decade, increasing studies have identified stem cells as the pivotal contributors to skeletogenesis and postnatal bone homeostasis, the alterations of which also underlie the pathogenesis of various bone diseases. Evolving from culture-defined mesenchymal stem cells to marked skeletal stem cells in situ, stem cells are continuously being investigated for their origin, identity, localization, function, and regulatory mechanisms. Notably, the bone forms a specialized niche where stem cells dynamically interact with the microenvironment, including vascular, immune and neural components, through paracrine mechanisms involving recently examined extracellular vesicles. As cell-released membranous nanoparticles carry diverse bioactive molecules, extracellular vesicles are being continuously studied for their roles and mechanisms in regulating bone health and sickness. It represents an extensive intercellular communication network and should be fully dissected. Importantly, significant progress has been made in establishing bone regenerative therapeutics by harnessing or targeting stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles. Research in these areas will continually grow and ultimately shape our perspectives on how bone is maintained, damaged and treated.
This Research Topic aims to collect studies on stem cells and extracellular vesicles that can add new knowledge to current understandings of bone development, health maintenance, disease progression, and regenerative repair. Recent advances in single cell and spatial sequencing, multi-omics, lineage tracing and manipulation, genetic animal models, high dimensional flow cytometry, molecular biological approaches, single particle analysis, cell and vesicle sorting technologies, advanced visualization and imaging techniques, tissue engineering strategies, stem cell and extracellular vesicle transplantations, targeted molecule delivery methodologies, translational and clinical investigations will help to achieve the goal.
We seek to bring together Original Research, Reviews, Commentary articles, and Perspectives that focus on the following themes, including but not limited to:
• Studies that reveal the roles and function of stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles in bone development and health;
• Studies that identify new stem cell populations or analyze transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic profiles of stem cells in bone;
• Studies that unravel extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular crosstalk in regulating the bone remodeling process;
• Studies that discuss mutual regulation of stem cells with the bone microenvironment, such as vascular, immune and neural components, with or without extracellular vesicle communications;
• Studies that offer mechanistic insights into alterations of stem cells and extracellular vesicles in bone aging and disease;
• Studies that address the therapeutic needs of bone disease based on the use or regulation of stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles;
• Studies that provide bone tissue engineering and regeneration materials, techniques, strategies, and outcomes by incorporating stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles;
• Clinical studies where stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles are involved in the diagnosis or treatment of bone disorders.
As a principal structural and endocrine organ, the bone develops from intramembranous or endochondral ossification and undergoes constant remodeling throughout life. It also possesses an inherent capacity for self-repair, yet this can be overwhelmed under major trauma, or substantially compromised by a myriad of degenerative or inflammatory events in aging and pathologies, leading to unhealed fractures, osteoporosis and other bone disorders.
In the past decade, increasing studies have identified stem cells as the pivotal contributors to skeletogenesis and postnatal bone homeostasis, the alterations of which also underlie the pathogenesis of various bone diseases. Evolving from culture-defined mesenchymal stem cells to marked skeletal stem cells in situ, stem cells are continuously being investigated for their origin, identity, localization, function, and regulatory mechanisms. Notably, the bone forms a specialized niche where stem cells dynamically interact with the microenvironment, including vascular, immune and neural components, through paracrine mechanisms involving recently examined extracellular vesicles. As cell-released membranous nanoparticles carry diverse bioactive molecules, extracellular vesicles are being continuously studied for their roles and mechanisms in regulating bone health and sickness. It represents an extensive intercellular communication network and should be fully dissected. Importantly, significant progress has been made in establishing bone regenerative therapeutics by harnessing or targeting stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles. Research in these areas will continually grow and ultimately shape our perspectives on how bone is maintained, damaged and treated.
This Research Topic aims to collect studies on stem cells and extracellular vesicles that can add new knowledge to current understandings of bone development, health maintenance, disease progression, and regenerative repair. Recent advances in single cell and spatial sequencing, multi-omics, lineage tracing and manipulation, genetic animal models, high dimensional flow cytometry, molecular biological approaches, single particle analysis, cell and vesicle sorting technologies, advanced visualization and imaging techniques, tissue engineering strategies, stem cell and extracellular vesicle transplantations, targeted molecule delivery methodologies, translational and clinical investigations will help to achieve the goal.
We seek to bring together Original Research, Reviews, Commentary articles, and Perspectives that focus on the following themes, including but not limited to:
• Studies that reveal the roles and function of stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles in bone development and health;
• Studies that identify new stem cell populations or analyze transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic profiles of stem cells in bone;
• Studies that unravel extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular crosstalk in regulating the bone remodeling process;
• Studies that discuss mutual regulation of stem cells with the bone microenvironment, such as vascular, immune and neural components, with or without extracellular vesicle communications;
• Studies that offer mechanistic insights into alterations of stem cells and extracellular vesicles in bone aging and disease;
• Studies that address the therapeutic needs of bone disease based on the use or regulation of stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles;
• Studies that provide bone tissue engineering and regeneration materials, techniques, strategies, and outcomes by incorporating stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles;
• Clinical studies where stem cells and/or extracellular vesicles are involved in the diagnosis or treatment of bone disorders.