Unraveling the role of PIWI/piRNAs in stem cell therapy: Epigenetic mechanisms and therapeutic potentials.

Ying Yang, Xiangping Luo, Ermao Li, Zhengmao Li, Feiyan Zou, Jiayang Liao, Yizhi Wu, Bo Wei

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in Genes & diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ying YangInstitute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Heneyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, Hunan 42100l, China.

Xiangping LuoInstitute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Heneyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, Hunan 42100l, China.

Ermao LiInstitute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Heneyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, Hunan 42100l, China.

Zhengmao LiDepartment of Orthopaedics Trauma, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.

Feiyan ZouInstitute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Heneyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, Hunan 42100l, China.

Jiayang LiaoInstitute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Heneyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, Hunan 42100l, China.

Yizhi WuInstitute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Heneyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, Hunan 42100l, China.

Bo WeiInstitute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Heneyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, Hunan 42100l, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The therapeutic potential of stem cell therapy critically depends on precise epigenetic regulation mediated by PIWI/piRNA complexes. This review synthesizes current literature to analyze the structure, interaction mechanisms, and epigenetic functions of PIWI proteins and their associated piRNAs (24-32 nt non-coding RNAs), with emphasis on stem cell therapy and disease modeling applications. PIWI/piRNA complexes critically regulate transcriptional control, chromatin remodeling, and stem cell plasticity. These complexes maintain stemness while promoting differentiation, serving as key biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancers and skeletal disorders. However, translational challenges regarding specificity, delivery stability, and safety profiles persist. Advancing PIWI/piRNA-based therapeutics requires innovative technologies and expanded clinical validation to develop safe, targeted stem cell treatments for diverse pathologies.

Indexed as

Epigenetic regulationpiRNAPIWI/piRNA complexesPIWI proteinsStem cell therapy

Identifiers

PMID42253754

DOI10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101854

PMCPMC13241638

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.