New Insights into Mesothelial Cell
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 35
Special Issue Editors
Interests: pleural liquid; pleural friction; alveolar cells; mesothelial cells; mesothelial transport
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: epithelial and mesothelial barriers; fluid, ion and polypeptide transports; MALT; pleural liquid; pleural friction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The only function of mesothelial cells was traditionally thought to be lining the body's serous cavities and synthesizing lubricating fluids in order to create a non-adhesive surface that reduces friction between organs. However, mesothelial cells are now recognized to play a variety of fascinating roles, leading to new insights into their biological significance and potential in medical applications.
Mesothelial cells are characterized by great plasticity: they can undergo the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays a key role in the onset of fibrosis and serous cavity adhesion in stressful conditions. Mesothelial cells have also been shown to play an important role in the regeneration of damaged tissue. When injury occurs in serous membranes, these cells can migrate to the injury site and proliferate to aid in tissue repair. Mesothelial cells also have stem cell-like properties, as they can retain the ability to differentiate into various cytotypes, including osteoblasts and adipocytes.
Another role of mesothelial cells is their ability to modulate immune responses. They can release substances that attract immune cells into serous cavities to fight infections and prevent the spread of pathogens.
Mesothelial cells are a focus in cancer research, especially concerning mesothelioma, a cancer originating in the mesothelium. Beyond this, in recent years, numerous studies have highlighted the role of mesothelial cells in promoting the dissemination and growth of cancer cells in serous cavities, making them significant players in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, mesothelial cells might also lead to resistance to anti-tumor drugs, indicating that they are potential targets for cancer therapies.
This Special Issue aims to cover the above-described topics. We will publish communications, full papers and reviews focused on all-novel insights concerning mesothelial cells, with an emphasis on their molecular mechanism.
Dr. Francesca Bodega
Dr. Cristina Porta
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- mesothelial cells
- serous cavities
- lubricating fluids
- epithelial–mesenchymal transition
- fibrosis
- tissue repair
- mesothelioma
- tumor microenvironment
- immune response
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