Journal profile · CELL BIOLOGY
Human Cell
ISSN 1749-0774 · Springer Singapore · JAPAN · 6 issues per year · Founded 2002
Human Cell: CAS Zone 3 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.82; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,490; median 141 days to acceptance (101 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 176 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Human Cell is published by Springer Singapore and is in Zone 3 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research, MicroRNA in disease regulation and Circular RNAs in diseases, together about 31.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Human Cell is the official English-language journal of the Japan Human Cell Society. The journal serves as a forum for international research on all aspects of the human cell, encompassing not only cell biology but also pathology, cytology, and oncology, including clinical oncology. Embryonic stem cells derived from animals, regenerative medicine using animal cells, and experimental animal models with implications for human diseases are covered as well.Submissions in any of the following categories will be considered: Research Articles, Cell Lines, Short Communications, Reviews, Commentaries, and Letters to the Editor. A brief clinical case report focusing on cellular responses to pathological insults in human studies may also be submitted as a Letter to the Editor in a concise and short format.Not only basic scientists but also gynecologists, oncologists, and other clinical scientists are welcome to submit work expressing new ideas or research using human cells.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): CELL BIOLOGY
Editor-in-chief Yo-ichi IshidaPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named Japan 47, United States 2, Germany 2, Australia 1 (52 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms researchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology11.9%
- MicroRNA in disease regulationBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology11%
- Circular RNAs in diseasesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8.3%
- RNA modifications and cancerBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8%
- Mesenchymal stem cell researchMedicine5.6%
- Cancer Cells and MetastasisMedicine5.3%
- Sarcoma Diagnosis and TreatmentMedicine4.9%
- Pluripotent Stem Cells ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.2%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Cell Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Cell Biology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Cell Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEEmbaseCASPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 2.82LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.8Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.1Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.8LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.85LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.66LetPub ·
- h-index
- 32LetPub ·
- h-index
- 56OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 698OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.5OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 3.6%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 22.32%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 164LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 476,700Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,778 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 116 | 30 | 40 |
| 2025 | 176 | 50 | 387 |
| 2024 | 144 | 30 | 661 |
| 2023 | 165 | 47 | 1,599 |
| 2022 | 197 | 52 | 2,439 |
| 2021 | 191 | 53 | 3,688 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
141 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 90 days – 194 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 14 days (101 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 160 days
- Sample
- 101 articles with submission and acceptance dates (325 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer review, Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 2,490 / EUR 3,790 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 3,600 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted9, with length limits
- cell linesSubmissions in any of the following categories will be considered: Research Articles, Cell Lines, Short Communications, Reviews, Commentaries and Letters to the…Length not stated
- commentariesSubmissions in any of the following categories will be considered: Research Articles, Cell Lines, Short Communications, Reviews, Commentaries and Letters to the…Length not stated
- commentarynd 2000 words for Short Communications. Commentaries and Letters to the Editor should not exceed 1000 words, and no more than 10 references may be cited. Text F…main text ≤ 1,000 words
- editorialThe acceptance criteria for all papers are the quality and originality of the research and its significance to our readership. Except where otherwise stated, ma…Length not stated
- letters to the editorSubmissions in any of the following categories will be considered: Research Articles, Cell Lines, Short Communications, Reviews, Commentaries and Letters to the…Length not stated
- research articledices) should not exceed 3600 words for Research Articles, Cell Lines and Reviews, and 2000 words for Short Communications. Commentaries and Letters to the Emain text ≤ 2,000 words
- research articlesSubmissions in any of the following categories will be considered: Research Articles, Cell Lines, Short Communications, Reviews, Commentaries and Letters to the…Length not stated
- reviewsSubmissions in any of the following categories will be considered: Research Articles, Cell Lines, Short Communications, Reviews, Commentaries and Letters to the…Length not stated
- short communicationsSubmissions in any of the following categories will be considered: Research Articles, Cell Lines, Short Communications, Reviews, Commentaries and Letters to the…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Trial registration / reporting guidelines
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Competing Interests
Authors are requested to disclose interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Interests within the last 3 years of beginning the work (conducting the research and preparing the work for submission) should be reported. Interests outside the 3-year time frame must be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work. Disclo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability
Encourages research data to be archived in data repositories. Model summary
We encourage research data to be archived in data repositories wherever possible.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
Cell line studies must cite a report on establishment of the cell line or equivalent original research paper. Model summary
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Human Cell, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Single-blind peer review
Single-blind peer review by two anonymous reviewers and the Editor. Model summary
This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. This journal also publishes special/guest-edited issues. The peer review process for these articles is the same as the peer review process of the journal in general. Additionally, if a guest editor authors an article in their issue/collection, they will not handle the peer review process. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Trial registration / reporting guidelines Clinical Trial Registration
The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of a clinical trial is "any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes". The WHO defines health interventions as “A health intervention is an act performed for, with or on behalf of a person or population whose purpose is to ass…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Singapore
- Country or region
- JAPAN
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- 6 issues per year
- Founded
- 2002
- ISSN
- 1749-0774
- Society / sponsor
- Japan Human Cell Society
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Human Cell
What CAS zone is Human Cell in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Human Cell is in Zone 3 of Biology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Cell Biology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Human Cell?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.82; CiteScore 5.8, h-index 56.
How long does peer review take at Human Cell?
Based on the dates recorded on 101 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 141 days (interquartile range 90–194 days); authors report an average review time of over 12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Human Cell?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Manuscript length: ≤ 3,600 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Human Cell based?
Of the 52 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Japan (47), United States (2) and Germany (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Human Cell?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Human Cell is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, Embase and CAS; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Human Cell open access, and what is the APC?
Human Cell is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,490.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .