Publication Name	World Journal of Stem Cells
Manuscript ID	125689
DOI	10.4252/wjsc.125689
Country	China

Category	Medicine, Research & Experimental
Manuscript Type	Minireviews
Article Title	Regenerative-system dysfunction in organ fibrosis: Maladaptive regeneration, fibrotic memory, and therapeutic reprogramming
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Jia-Peng Li, Xin-Yao Chen, Qing Wang, Yu-Yang Du, Ting-Ting Guo, Jia-Ni Lin, Jia-Yue Fu, Ming-Li Xie, Jia-Hui Liu, Jian-Lu Gao, Ming-Ming Wang and Sai Luo
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation PL2025H085, QC2018102 National Natural Science Foundation of China 82102356 Outstanding Young Medical Talents Training Funding Project of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University 2021J05 Scientific Research Innovation Fund of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University 2019B24 Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation PL2024H066 Fundamental Research Funds for Provincial Universities in Heilongjiang Province 2025-KYYWF-ZR0190 Fundamental Research Funds for Provincial Universities in Heilongjiang Province 2025-KYYWF-ZR0177 Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation BS2025H007 “New Era Heilongjiang Province Excellent Master’s and Doctoral Dissertation” Funding Project LJYXL2022-079 Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of Heilongjiang Province S202310226027 Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of Harbin Medical University 202310226027 Harbin Medical University Youth Science Foundation 2023-KYYWF-0142 Graduate Research and Practice Innovation Project of Harbin Medical University YJSCX2023-206HYD
Corresponding Author	Sai Luo, Full Professor, Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23 Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China. 101301@hrbmu.edu.cn
Key Words	Fibrosis; Regeneration; Stem cells; Cellular senescence; Epigenesis; Genetic; Extracellular matrix; Cellular reprogramming; Fibrotic memory
Core Tip	Fibrosis can involve failed tissue regeneration as well as scar accumulation. This review compares organ-specific evidence for maladaptive repair and fibrotic memory without treating all repair-associated cells as stem cells. Direct memory evidence is separated from persistent abnormalities during ongoing disease. Therapeutic reprogramming requires controlled, durable cellular-state or lineage correction; extracellular matrix normalization, immune and metabolic modulation, cell replacement, and organoid-guided screening remain distinct. The proposed framework prioritizes testable mechanisms, context-dependent reversibility, and safety rather than assuming that preclinical state changes restore human tissue function.
Citation	Li JP, Chen XY, Wang Q, Du YY, Guo TT, Lin JN, Fu JY, Xie ML, Liu JH, Gao JL, Wang MM, Luo S. Regenerative-system dysfunction in organ fibrosis: Maladaptive regeneration, fibrotic memory, and therapeutic reprogramming. World J Stem Cells 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.4252/wjsc.125689
PDF	125689-in-press.pdf

Received	2026-07-17 07:03
Peer-Review Started	2026-07-17 07:03
First Decision by Editorial Office Director
Return for Revision	2026-08-26 05:51
Revised	2026-09-04 20:23
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-09-23 07:35
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-10-13 09:51
Articles in Press	2026-10-13 09:51
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-0210 (online)
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