Beyond the niche: tissue-level coordination of stem cell dynamics
Lucy Erin O'Brien1, David Bilder
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305;
Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|August 14, 2013
Summary
Adult organ function relies on stem cells within niches. This study explores how multiple stem cell niches coordinate across tissues to regulate organ renewal and repair, focusing on epithelial tissues.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Tissue regeneration
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Adult organs depend on stem cells for lifelong function.
- Stem cell behavior is regulated by niche signals.
- Organs contain numerous stem cell-niche units across tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate higher-order mechanisms of interniche coordination in epithelial organs.
- To understand how tissue-level processes control stem cell renewal, repair, and remodeling.
- To explore the role of stem cell territories and tissue architecture in niche regulation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on stem cell niches and tissue organization.
- Analysis of interniche coordination mechanisms in epithelial tissues.
- Consideration of stem cell territories and tissue architecture.
Main Results:
- Epithelial organs provide a model for studying interniche coordination due to their simpler geometry.
- Higher-order mechanisms are crucial for orchestrating stem cell activity across an entire organ.
- Tissue architecture and potential stem cell territories may influence niche coordination.
Conclusions:
- Understanding interniche coordination is the next frontier beyond individual stem cell-niche interactions.
- Epithelial organs offer insights into the spatial control of stem-based tissue maintenance.
- Further research is needed to elucidate how tissue-level factors regulate stem cell populations.
More Related Videos
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...
01:06Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell
A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...
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...
01:01Regulation 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...
01:21Hematopoiesis
The process of blood cell formation is called hematopoiesis. Hematopoiesis starts early during development, on the seventh day of embryogenesis. This phase of hematopoiesis is called the primitive wave, wherein the extraembryonic yolk sac allows the production of erythroid cells and endothelial cells from a common precursor called hemangioblast. The erythroid cells provide oxygen to support the growth of the rapidly dividing embryo. Hemangioblasts later develop into hematopoietic stem cells or...
01:12Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...