Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

The hematopoietic stem cells or HSCs are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate and give rise to all blood and immune cells. HSCs are maintained in the quiescent stage until an external stimulus initiates their differentiation. The multipotent HSCs exist as two heterogeneous populations, long-term repopulating cells (LTRC) and short-term repopulating cells (STRC). The two HSC populations have different surface markers or receptors and are classified based on quiescence and long-term...

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming

Somatic 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...

Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming

Methods 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.

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...

Stem Cell Niche

Stem Cell Niche

The stem cell niche is the dynamic microenvironment where stem cells reside. Inside these niches, the cells may remain undifferentiated, undergo high self-renewal, or become lineage-specific progenitors. Stem cells coexist with other niche cells, such as stromal cells. They also interact closely with the ECM. Cell-cell and cell-matrix communication occur via adhesion molecules or soluble factors that signal the stem cells and determine their fate. Stromal cells also provide survival signals to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Epigenetic Awakening of Viral Mimicry in Cancer.

Cancer discovery·2020

Same author

SirT7 auto-ADP-ribosylation regulates glucose starvation response through mH2A1.

Science advances·2020

Same author

Effect of BDNF Val66Met on hippocampal subfields volumes and compensatory interaction with APOE-ε4 in middle-age cognitively unimpaired individuals from the ALFA study.

Brain structure & function·2020

Same author

Epigenetic loss of the transfer RNA-modifying enzyme TYW2 induces ribosome frameshifts in colon cancer.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2020

Same author

Methylation regulation of Antiviral host factors, Interferon Stimulated Genes (ISGs) and T-cell responses associated with natural HIV control.

PLoS pathogens·2020

Same author

The Genome-wide Methylation Profile of CD4+ T Cells From Individuals With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Identifies Distinct Patterns Associated With Disease Progression.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

An Alternative Culture Method to Maintain Genomic Hypomethylation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using MEK Inhibitor PD0325901 and Vitamin C

An Alternative Culture Method to Maintain Genomic Hypomethylation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using MEK Inhibitor PD0325901 and Vitamin C

Published on: June 1, 2018

DNA methylation in stem cell renewal and multipotency.

María Berdasco¹, Manel Esteller

¹Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, 08908, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Av, Gran Via 199-203, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Stem Cell Research & Therapy

|November 2, 2011

Summary

DNA methylation is crucial for controlling adult stem cell proliferation and differentiation in regenerative medicine. Further research is needed to clarify its precise role in lineage programs before clinical applications.

More Related Videos

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images

Published on: September 7, 2017

The Detection of 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Neural Stem Cells and Brains of Mice

The Detection of 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Neural Stem Cells and Brains of Mice

Published on: September 19, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

An Alternative Culture Method to Maintain Genomic Hypomethylation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using MEK Inhibitor PD0325901 and Vitamin C

An Alternative Culture Method to Maintain Genomic Hypomethylation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using MEK Inhibitor PD0325901 and Vitamin C

Published on: June 1, 2018

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images

Published on: September 7, 2017

The Detection of 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Neural Stem Cells and Brains of Mice

The Detection of 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Neural Stem Cells and Brains of Mice

Published on: September 19, 2019

Area of Science:

Epigenetics
Stem Cell Biology
Regenerative Medicine

Background:

Multipotent adult stem cells offer potential for tissue repair.
Cellular differentiation requires loss of proliferation and gain of identity.
Epigenetic modifications, like DNA methylation, regulate these processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of DNA methylation in adult stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.
To examine DNA methylation dynamics during differentiation.
To assess the potential for imposing multilineage potential via CpG methylation.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on DNA methylation's role.
Analysis of spontaneous differentiation post-demethylating agent treatment.
Examination of evidence from somatic cell reprogramming (SCNT, iPSCs).

Main Results:

DNA methylation controls stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
CpG methylation dynamics influence tissue-specific gene expression.
Demethylation agents can induce spontaneous differentiation.

Conclusions:

DNA methylation is essential for regulating stem cell fate.
The exact contribution of DNA methylation in specific lineage programs remains unclear.
Caution and rigorous testing are advised for clinical use of adult stem cells in regenerative medicine.