Edited By: Professor Qi Zhou
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Cell Proliferation is an open access cell biology journal publishing research in all aspects of cell proliferation and differentiation in normal and abnormal states. We welcome submissions regarding stem cells, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, cell cycle control, cell senescence, cell death, and mathematical modelling. The journal is considered essential reading for those involved in cancer research and stem cell research.
We publish original research papers and invited review articles and letters commenting on previously published papers and/or topics of general interest.
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- The flagship journal of the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research published with the Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine.
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Articles
PD-L1 Promotes Immunological Tolerance and Enhances Visual Protection of hESC-RPE Grafts in Retinal Degeneration
-  14 February 2025
Graphical Abstract

We generated immune-tolerant mature hESC-RPE cells by overexpressing PD-L1. PD-L1-expressing hESC-RPE grafts exhibited significantly higher survival, reduced apoptosis and enhanced visual protection in retinal degeneration models, which presents an alternative target to improve the efficiency of hESC-RPE-based therapy for AMD.
The Application of Polymeric Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Carriers to Cells in Neurodegenerative Diseases
-  11 February 2025
Klotho Regulates Club Cell Senescence and Differentiation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
-  10 February 2025
Graphical Abstract

We speculated lack of Klotho (KL) would aggravate club cell senescence, which contributes to COPD inflammation. In this study, we collected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lung tissue using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), revealing club cell heterogeneity and cellular senescence in COPD. Club cells were divided into four subpopulations, in addition, KL and club cell secretory proteins (CCSP) were downregulated in cigarette smoke (CS)-induced COPD mice, associated with increasing age-related markers. After KL knockout, more ciliated cells appeared where club cells disappeared, and resulting CCSP downregulation. Furthermore, KL deficiency aggravated club cell senescence and CSE-induced pulmonary inflammation. To investigate the specific regulation mechanism, hnRNPA2/B1 was recognised and identified it was the key molecule in KL-regulated club cell senescence, and neddylation of club cell was a crucial factor contributing to hnRNPA2/B1 downregulation. Thus, we concluded that KL could regulate club cell senescence and differentiation. When CS stimulates the small airway epithelium, KL deficiency aggravates lung inflammation, club cell senescence and dysfunctional of ciliated cell. Targeting neddylation might be a promising strategy to reverse lung aging and club cell senescence. This study describes a novel mechanism about COPD-linked lung inflammation.
Large-Scale Production of Expandable Hepatoblast Organoids and Polarised Hepatocyte Organoids From hESCs Under 3D Static and Dynamic Suspension Conditions
-  8 February 2025
Graphical Abstract

Under 3D suspension culture condition, the expandable hepatoblast organoids and mature polarised hepatocyte organoids were established by low concentration of Matrigel from human embryonic stem cells, which recapitulated the gene expression signatures and functions of primary human hepatoblast and hepatocytes. The dynamic culture system by using bioreactors further enlarged the scale of hepatocyte organoid culture.
Ciliary IFT-B Transportation Plays an Important Role in Human Endometrial Receptivity Establishment and is Disrupted in Recurrent Implantation Failure Patients
-  6 February 2025
Lactate‐induced protein lactylation: A bridge between epigenetics and metabolic reprogramming in cancer
- Cell Proliferation
-  14 April 2023
Graphical Abstract

Lactate is not only an endpoint of glycolysis but is gradually being discovered to play the role of a universal metabolic fuel for energy via the ‘lactate shuttle’ moving between cells and transmitting signals. The glycolytic-dependent metabolism found in tumours and fast-growing cells has made lactate a pivotal player in energy metabolism reprogramming, which enables cells to obtain abundant energy in a short time. Moreover, lactate can provide favourable conditions for tumorigenesis by shaping the acidic tumour microenvironment, recruiting immune cells, etc., and the recently discovered lactate-induced lactylation moves even further on pro-tumorigenesis mechanisms of lactate production, circulation and utilization. As with other epigenetic modifications, lactylation can modify histone proteins to alter the spatial configuration of chromatin, affect DNA accessibility and regulate the expression of corresponding genes. What's more, the degree of lactylation is inseparable from the spatialized lactate concentration, which builds a bridge between epigenetics and metabolic reprogramming. Here, we review the important role of lactate in energy reprogramming, summarize the latest finding of lactylation in tumorigenesis and try to explore therapeutic strategies in oncotherapy that can kill two birds with one stone.
Umbilical cord‐derived mesenchymal stem cell secretome promotes skin regeneration and rejuvenation: From mechanism to therapeutics
- Cell Proliferation
-  26 December 2023
Graphical Abstract

This review can be separated into two sections, one on mechanisms and the other on applications. Acute and chronic wound healing, anti-aging, hair follicle regeneration, and other skincare effects are all supported by the UCMSC secretome in a variety of ways. Different functions in four stages are skin regeneration mechanisms. The review also covers everything from secretome culture, separation, and pretreatment through dosage, administration route, efficacy, and biosafety in the clinic.
Single-cell RNA sequencing in osteoarthritis
- Cell Proliferation
-  14 June 2023
Graphical Abstract

Schematic of the applications of scRNA-seq in OA. Single-cell RNA sequencing could elucidate the molecular mechanisms in osteoarthritis and identify potential targets to design targeted therapies. scRNA-seq can also evaluate the safety and effectiveness of therapeutics by clarifying the cell population changes in the surrounding microenvironment. In the future, combining multiple single-cell multiomics technologies will further pave the way for personalized treatment.
Single‐cell RNA sequencing reveals immune cell dysfunction in the peripheral blood of patients with highly aggressive gastric cancer
- Cell Proliferation
-  6 February 2024
Graphical Abstract

Highly aggressive gastric cancer (HAGC) is a gastric cancer characterized by bone marrow metastasis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which has a very poor prognosis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from seven HAGC patients, six normal advanced gastric cancer (NAGC) patients, and five healthy individuals for single-cell RNA sequencing using the microwell-seq platform. We identified the cell subpopulations and found that in HAGC patient blood immature neutrophils were greatly increased. Mononuclear phagocytes showed M2-like signatures and T cells were suppressed and reduced in number. Together, they contributed to an immunosuppressive environment in HAGC patients. We also investigated the crosstalk among PBMCs and revealed that intercellular communications were greatly increased in HAGC. Besides, S100A8/A9 and multiple signalling pathways that contribute to DIC were upregulated in HAGC, suggesting their role in HAGC development.
Transcriptional and open chromatin analysis of bovine skeletal muscle development by single‐cell sequencing
- Cell Proliferation
-  1 March 2023
Graphical Abstract

Cai et al. applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq) to investigate the cell types, molecular features, transcriptional and epigenetic regulation, and patterns of developing bovine skeletal muscle from gestational, lactational and adult stages. Detailed molecular analysis was used to dissect cellular heterogeneity, and the differentiation trajectory of myogenic cells was deduced to uncover their dynamic gene expression profiles. SCENIC analysis was performed to demonstrate key regulons during cell fate decisions. The future expression state of these heterogeneous cells was explored by RNA velocity analysis and extensive networks of intercellular communication were analysed using the toolkit CellChat. Moreover, the transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility modalities were confirmed to be highly concordant and integrative analysis of chromatin accessibility and gene expression revealed key transcriptional regulators acting during myogenesis.
Integrated single‐cell transcriptomics reveals the hypoxia‐induced inflammation‐cancer transformation in NASH‐derived hepatocellular carcinoma
- Cell Proliferation
-  22 November 2023
Graphical Abstract

This study collected and integrated liver single-cell transcriptome sequencing data at different stages of NAFLD-related HCC progression to construct a single-cell transcriptome atlas of NAFLD-related HCC disease progression, revealing a transitional CYP7A1+ hepatocytes in the precancerous state. These cells exhibited characteristics shared by hepatocytes in both NASH and HCC stages, marked by heightened CYP7A1 expression and upregulated primary bile acid synthesis pathways. Activation of FXR inhibits bile acid synthesis in hepatocytes, which might be a potential therapeutic target to prevent the malignant transformation of transition cells. In addition, the liver pathological microenvironment becomes progressively hypoxic during the progression of NAFLD-related HCC, and hepatocytes adapt to the progressive hypoxia pathological microenvironment by upregulating HIF1A, which leads to changes in the metabolic level, proliferation potential, and pro-angiogenic ability of hepatocytes, induced end-stage liver disease. Tumour cells regulate endothelial cells through the HIF1A-VEGFA-PLVAP axis, instigating angiogenesis and fueling tumour growth. At the same time, hypoxia can lead to M2 polarization of macrophages and recruitment by tumour cells depending on the CCL15-CCR1 axis, promoting the formation of a tumour immunosuppressive microenvironment. This study deeply analysed the dynamic changes of hepatocytes and macrophages during the progression of NAFLD-related HCC and highlighted the potential regulatory mechanism of the hypoxic disease microenvironment and the activation of transcription factor HIF1A on the occurrence and development of NAFLD-related HCC. These insights provide a robust theoretical foundation and empirical basis, essential for the development of novel drugs and potential clinical applications.
Piezo1‐mediated M2 macrophage mechanotransduction enhances bone formation through secretion and activation of transforming growth factor‐β1
- Cell Proliferation
-  7 March 2023
Integration of human organoids single-cell transcriptomic profiles and human genetics repurposes critical cell type-specific drug targets for severe COVID-19
- Cell Proliferation
-  8 October 2023
Graphical Abstract

Human self-organizing 3D cultured systems recapitulate various core features of human organ development and biological features, holding tremendous potentials for basic and translational research. Ma and colleagues constructed a computational framework to integrate atlas-level organoid single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, genome-wide association study summary statistics, expression quantitative trait loci, and gene–drug interaction data for distinguishing critical cell populations and drug targets relevant to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Together, these findings showcase that host genetic determinants have cellular-specific contribution to COVID-19 severity, and identification of cell type-specific drug targets may facilitate to develop effective therapeutics for treating severe COVID-19 and its complications.
Matrix stiffness regulates macrophage polarisation via the Piezo1-YAP signalling axis
- Cell Proliferation
-  31 March 2024
Generation of human vascularized and chambered cardiac organoids for cardiac disease modelling and drug evaluation
- Cell Proliferation
-  7 March 2024
Recent issues
- Volume 58, Issue 1January 2025
- Volume 57, Issue 12December 2024
- Volume 57, Issue 11November 2024
- Volume 57, Issue 10October 2024