Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
11:42
Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells
Published on: April 7, 2017
Reprogramming of mesenchymal stem cells by the synovial sarcoma-associated oncogene SYT-SSX2
C B Garcia1, C M Shaffer, M P Alfaro
1Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0021, USA.
Oncogene
|October 15, 2011
Summary
The SYT-SSX2 protein reprograms stem cells toward a neural lineage, disrupting normal differentiation and initiating synovial sarcoma (SS) development. Targeting FGFR2 shows promise for SS therapy.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Cell identity is governed by gene expression.
- Transcription factors reprogram cell lineages.
- Synovial sarcoma (SS) arises from mesenchymal stem cells due to the SYT-SSX fusion protein.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of SYT-SSX2 in cell reprogramming and synovial sarcoma initiation.
- To identify molecular targets of SYT-SSX2 in stem cells.
Main Methods:
- Reprogramming of myogenic progenitors and human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) using SYT-SSX2.
- Analysis of gene expression and differentiation pathways.
- Gene knockdown experiments targeting FGFR2.
Main Results:
- SYT-SSX2 induced a pro-neural lineage commitment in myogenic progenitors and BMMSCs.
- SYT-SSX2 targeted neural-specific genes and developmental pathway mediators, compromising normal differentiation.
- Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (Fgfr2) was identified as a SYT-SSX2 target, and its knockdown inhibited SS cell growth and neural phenotype.
Conclusions:
- SYT-SSX2 initiates SS tumorigenesis by aberrant stem cell differentiation.
- FGFR2 is crucial for SYT-SSX2-mediated transformation and SS maintenance.
- FGFR2 represents a potential therapeutic target for synovial sarcoma.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
01:29Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this...
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for injury repair.
01:21Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy
Satellite stem cells or myosatellite cells are quiescent stem cells that Alexander Mauro first identified in 1961. These cells are located between the sarcolemma, the plasma membrane of muscle fibers, and the basal lamina, the connective tissue sheath covering it. These mononucleated cells are activated in response to muscle injury, can transform into myoblasts, and may form or repair muscle fibers. Myosatellite cells can provide additional myonuclei for muscle regeneration or return to a...
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Somatic cells are...