About this Research Topic
Cell differentiation has been long considered a critical factor for the irreversible loss of proliferative activity and for the acquisition of a specific cell fate. However, the seminal discovery of cell reprogramming has greatly extended our understanding of cell differentiation and how it is coordinated with pluripotency and stemness. Thus, it has been revealed that a terminally differentiated cell can reprogram its gene expression pattern to return to a pluripotent undifferentiated status (iPS cell) from which it could eventually become a cell of a different phenotype. Remarkably, reprogramming is also closely linked to an apparently antagonistic cellular process such as senescence. Therefore, reprogramming and senescence seem to coexist under both physiological and pathological (e.g., tumor cell progression and dissemination) conditions in different tissues and organs through cell-autonomous and microenvironment-derived mechanisms.
In the last decade, it has been revealed that the reprogramming-senescence axis impacts major organ responses such as tissue repair and regeneration upon injury. For certain organs, physiological terminal differentiation and proliferation exhaust of cells and tissues is essential for its functionality. Recent studies have identified that reprogramming and pluripotency factors OCT4-KLF4-SOX2-MYC (OKSM) are involved in the progression of different tumor types. Remarkably, cell reprogramming appears closely linked to senescence, a seemingly opposed cell status that represents a hallmark of aging in response to various stress stimuli.
Indeed, recent observations support that tissue injury induces senescence and activates signaling pathways controlling reprogramming, thus highlighting the functional association of both processes. The reprogramming-senescence axis thus has a major role in normal development and tissue regeneration and remodeling in response to damage.
This Research Topic welcomes various article types, including Original Research, Brief Research Reports, and (Mini-) Reviews, focusing on, but not limited to the following themes:
- Crosstalk between cell reprogramming and senescence processes
- The role of cell reprogramming in tissue development
- The influence of senescence on disease progression
- Novel markers and pathways involved in the senescence-reprogramming axis
- The balance of differentiation/undifferentiation ratio in tumor progression and dissemination
- Senescence alterations in tissue regeneration
- The role of pluripotency and stem cells in understanding disease.
We accept different article types including Mini-Reviews, Brief Research Reports and Perspectives. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.
In the last decade, it has been revealed that the reprogramming-senescence axis impacts major organ responses such as tissue repair and regeneration upon injury. For certain organs, physiological terminal differentiation and proliferation exhaust of cells and tissues is essential for its functionality. Recent studies have identified that reprogramming and pluripotency factors OCT4-KLF4-SOX2-MYC (OKSM) are involved in the progression of different tumor types. Remarkably, cell reprogramming appears closely linked to senescence, a seemingly opposed cell status that represents a hallmark of aging in response to various stress stimuli.
Indeed, recent observations support that tissue injury induces senescence and activates signaling pathways controlling reprogramming, thus highlighting the functional association of both processes. The reprogramming-senescence axis thus has a major role in normal development and tissue regeneration and remodeling in response to damage.
This Research Topic welcomes various article types, including Original Research, Brief Research Reports, and (Mini-) Reviews, focusing on, but not limited to the following themes:
- Crosstalk between cell reprogramming and senescence processes
- The role of cell reprogramming in tissue development
- The influence of senescence on disease progression
- Novel markers and pathways involved in the senescence-reprogramming axis
- The balance of differentiation/undifferentiation ratio in tumor progression and dissemination
- Senescence alterations in tissue regeneration
- The role of pluripotency and stem cells in understanding disease.
We accept different article types including Mini-Reviews, Brief Research Reports and Perspectives. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.
Keywords: Reprogramming, senescence, aging, differentiation, proliferation, regeneration, tumor progression
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.
