Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
07:14
A Culture Method to Maintain Quiescent Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Published on: May 17, 2021
Maintaining tissue homeostasis: dynamic control of somatic stem cell activity
Benoit Biteau1, Christine E Hochmuth, Heinrich Jasper
1Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
Cell Stem Cell
|November 8, 2011
Summary
Somatic stem cell activity is crucial for tissue repair and homeostasis. Studies in Drosophila and vertebrate epithelia reveal conserved mechanisms for regulating stem cell proliferation during regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Regenerative medicine
- Epithelial biology
Background:
- Tissue homeostasis depends on precise somatic stem cell regulation.
- Stem cells must balance proliferation for repair with preventing overgrowth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review regulatory mechanisms of stem cell activity in the Drosophila intestinal epithelium.
- To highlight conserved regenerative strategies between Drosophila and vertebrate epithelia.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on Drosophila intestinal stem cell regulation.
- Comparison of findings with recent research on vertebrate epithelia.
Main Results:
- Regulatory mechanisms in Drosophila provide insights into stem cell control.
- Significant conservation of regenerative strategies observed across species.
Conclusions:
- Drosophila intestinal stem cells offer a model for understanding broader stem cell regulation.
- Conserved mechanisms underscore fundamental principles of tissue regeneration in barrier epithelia.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Stem 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...
01:01Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
All blood and immune cells are produced from the multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the process of hematopoiesis. However, they all have a limited life span. In addition, many are depleted in immune surveillance or combatting an injury or infection. This makes blood one of the most regenerative tissues. Hematopoiesis helps replenish these blood and immune cells, restoring the body's normal functioning. However, overproduction of blood and immune cells can make them cancerous or...
01:19Multipotency 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...
01:14Maintenance 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...
01:23Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells
After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...
However, failure of such a system...
01:12Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...