Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Mesenchymal Stem Cells01:19

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

5.2K
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...
5.2K
Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells01:18

Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells

3.8K
A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can divide without limit as needed and can, under specific conditions, differentiate into specialized cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
3.8K
Embryonic Stem Cells00:58

Embryonic Stem Cells

29.6K
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
29.6K
Embryonic Stem Cells00:57

Embryonic Stem Cells

4.2K
Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
4.2K
Adult Stem Cells01:33

Adult Stem Cells

31.1K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce more stem cells or progenitor cells that differentiate into mature, specialized cell types. All the cells in the body are generated from stem cells in the early embryo, but small populations of stem cells are also present in many adult tissues including the bone marrow, brain, skin, and gut. These adult stem cells typically produce the various cell types found in that tissue—to replace cells that are damaged or to continuously...
31.1K
Source And Potency Of Stem Cells01:27

Source And Potency Of Stem Cells

5.6K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with extensive self-renewal properties that help them maintain their population during the fetal and adult stages of life. They can specialize in all cell types of the human body. However, their differential potential may vary and can be classified into five types. Stem cells can be (1) Totipotent, (2) Pluripotent, (3) Multipotent, (4) Oligopotent, and (5) Unipotent. Each stem cell has a specific origin; the fertilized egg or zygote is a totipotent cell and...
5.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Methods for investigating STAT3 regulation of lysosomal function in mammary epithelial cells.

Journal of mammary gland biology and neoplasia·2024
Same author

Alveolar cells in the mammary gland: lineage commitment and cell death.

The Biochemical journal·2022
Same author

The immune environment of the mammary gland fluctuates during post-lactational regression and correlates with tumour growth rate.

Development (Cambridge, England)·2022
Same author

Gpr125 is a unifying hallmark of multiple mammary progenitors coupled to tumor latency.

Nature communications·2022
Same author

The ever-expanding landscape of cancer therapeutic approaches.

The FEBS journal·2021
Same author

In conversation with Christine Watson.

The FEBS journal·2021
Same journal

Horizontal transfer of mitochondria in cancer: The physiology reborn in disease?

Trends in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Spindle errors: A stress test for epithelial robustness.

Trends in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Multicellular ecosystems: Linking cellular diversity to tissue function and disease.

Trends in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Orchestrating the signaling-bias at the protease-activated receptor, PAR1.

Trends in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Crashing by design: Utilizing DNA damage for MCC differentiation.

Trends in cell biology·2026
Same journal

The value of a shared lab: Our insights.

Trends in cell biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines
10:51

Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines

Published on: March 22, 2015

33.8K

How should we define mammary stem cells?

Christine J Watson1

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK.

Trends in Cell Biology
|April 27, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mammary stem cells (MaSCs) are redefined based on new insights. This reappraisal clarifies stem and progenitor cell definitions and proposes future research directions for understanding MaSC hierarchy.

Keywords:
hierarchymammaryprogenitorquiescentstem

More Related Videos

Quantification of Self-renewal in Murine Mammosphere Cultures
07:40

Quantification of Self-renewal in Murine Mammosphere Cultures

Published on: November 26, 2019

6.5K
De Novo Generation of Somatic Stem Cells by YAP/TAZ
13:05

De Novo Generation of Somatic Stem Cells by YAP/TAZ

Published on: May 7, 2018

9.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines
10:51

Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines

Published on: March 22, 2015

33.8K
Quantification of Self-renewal in Murine Mammosphere Cultures
07:40

Quantification of Self-renewal in Murine Mammosphere Cultures

Published on: November 26, 2019

6.5K
De Novo Generation of Somatic Stem Cells by YAP/TAZ
13:05

De Novo Generation of Somatic Stem Cells by YAP/TAZ

Published on: May 7, 2018

9.3K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • Mammary stem cells (MaSCs) were historically defined by surface markers and fat pad repopulation ability, a capacity now understood to involve transplantation-induced reprogramming.
  • Lineage-tracing studies have created debate regarding whether MaSCs are unipotent or multipotent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically re-evaluate the current understanding of the mammary stem cell (MaSC) hierarchy.
  • To address misconceptions and propose clear definitions for mammary stem and progenitor cells.
  • To outline a future research strategy for elucidating MaSC biology.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of recent findings from innovative experimental approaches.
  • Integration of data from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq).
  • Consideration of epigenetic analyses, advanced imaging techniques, and novel mouse models.

Main Results:

  • New insights challenge traditional definitions and understandings of MaSC function and potential.
  • Evidence suggests a more complex regulatory network governing mammary stem and progenitor cell behavior.
  • The concept of MaSC hierarchy requires significant reappraisal in light of recent discoveries.

Conclusions:

  • The established model of mammary stem cell hierarchy needs revision based on contemporary research.
  • Clearer definitions for mammary stem and progenitor cells are proposed.
  • A path forward is suggested for advancing the field's understanding of mammary stem cells.