Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) reside in an environment that includes physical waves and energy that can interact with subcellular systems as cytoskeleton, transcription factors, and DNA, to finely modulate specific cellular functions. Thus, mechanical forces and physical energy can deeply impact on stem cell multipotency cell senescence, cell polarity, and cell differentiation.

Epigenetic regulation of stem cell functions can be obtained by miRNA, which can modulate stem cell function in response to specific stimuli, such as mechanical stimuli, and physical energy. This in turn can deeply influence the stem cell phenotype. Within this context, this special issue welcomes original articles, focusing on the impact of electromagnetic fields and mechanical stimuli such as shock waves. Papers regarding miRNA modulation of MSC phenotype are also requested.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Electromagnetic fields and cellular fate
• Mechanical forces, shock waves, and stem cell differentiation
• miRNA and other epigenetic modulators of stem cell fate