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Signaling in the stem cell niche: regulating cell fate, function and plasticity
Carlos Andrés Chacón-Martínez1, Janis Koester1, Sara A Wickström2,3,4
1Paul Gerson Unna Group 'Skin Homeostasis and Ageing', Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, D-50931 Cologne, Germany.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|August 3, 2018
Summary
Stem cell plasticity is dynamic, not fixed. The surrounding niche environment, through biochemical and mechanical signals, guides stem cell fate and adaptability in tissues like skin, intestine, and lung.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Developmental biology
- Tissue regeneration
Background:
- Traditional stem cell models assumed unidirectional differentiation.
- Tissue-resident stem cells exhibit more dynamic behavior.
- The stem cell niche plays a crucial role in regulating stemness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mechanisms of stem cell fate regulation by niche cues.
- To focus on epithelial stem cells in mammalian skin, intestine, and lung.
- To highlight the influence of niche inputs on stem cell plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of stem cell differentiation and niche interactions.
- Analysis of biochemical, mechanical, and architectural niche factors.
- Examination of stem cell behavior during morphogenesis, homeostasis, and regeneration.
Main Results:
- Stemness is a bidirectional and dynamic state, not a fixed hierarchy.
- Niche-derived cues significantly govern stem cell plasticity and adaptability.
- Diverse niche inputs modulate stem cell states across different physiological processes.
Conclusions:
- Stem cell fate is highly plastic and responsive to niche signals.
- Understanding niche-governed plasticity is key for tissue homeostasis and regeneration.
- This review emphasizes the dynamic nature of stem cells in their microenvironment.
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