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Updated: Jan 8, 2026

An Improved Method for Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Anesthetized Mice
Published on: March 19, 2018
The weight of cell identity
1Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. scadden.david@mgh.harvard.edu
Adult somatic cells show plasticity, but bone marrow cells did not change fate to become fat cells in vivo. This highlights challenges in using cell plasticity for therapies.
Area of Science:
- Cellular plasticity and differentiation
- Adult somatic cell reprogramming
- Adipogenesis and bone marrow stem cells
Background:
- Recent research indicates adult somatic cells can change identity through molecular modification.
- Investigating the potential for cell fate alteration in vivo is crucial for regenerative medicine.
Discussion:
- Koh and colleagues studied if bone marrow-derived cells could become adipocytes in vivo.
- The study aimed to understand cell fate plasticity under specific differentiation conditions.
Key Insights:
- Bone marrow-derived cells maintained their original identity despite conditions favoring adipocyte generation.
- This suggests inherent limitations to cell plasticity in vivo.
Outlook:
- Exploiting cell plasticity for therapeutic applications faces significant hurdles.
- Further research is needed to overcome these limitations for effective cell-based therapies.
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