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Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem Cells

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.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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 access...

Stem Cell Culture

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Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...

Embryonic Stem Cells

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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.
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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...

Forced Transdifferentiation

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Transdifferentiation, also known as lineage reprogramming, was first discovered by Selman and Kafatos in 1974 in silkmoths. They observed that the moths’ cuticle-producing cells transformed into salt-producing cells. Many such cases of natural transdifferentiation occur in organisms. In humans, pancreatic alpha cells can become beta cells. In newts, the loss of the eye’s lens causes the pigmented epithelial cells to transdifferentiate into the lens cells.
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

An Enzyme- and Serum-free Neural Stem Cell Culture Model for EMT Investigation Suited for Drug Discovery

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Published on: August 23, 2016

Alexander Friedenstein, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Shifting Paradigms and Euphemisms.

Donald G Phinney¹

¹Department of Molecular Medicine, Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.

Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)

|June 27, 2024

Summary

Friedenstein

Keywords:

hierarchy mesenchymal stem cells mesenchymal stromal cells paracrine communication stem cells stromal cells

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Area of Science:

Stem cell biology
Regenerative medicine
Bone marrow research

Background:

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were first identified by Friedenstein six decades ago.
His work also aided in identifying hematopoietic stem cells and skeletal stem/progenitor cells (SSPCs).
This review commemorates Friedenstein's birth centenary.

Purpose of the Study:

To review Friedenstein's key contributions to stem cell research.
To discuss the evolving concept and terminology of MSCs.
To highlight the link between MSC stromal quality and stem/progenitor functions.

Main Methods:

Literature review of Friedenstein's seminal papers.
Analysis of the evolving paradigms in MSC research.
Discussion of recent findings on MSC stromal attributes.

Main Results:

Friedenstein's foundational work established MSCs and aided in identifying other stem cell populations.
The concept of MSCs has evolved, with various terms used over time.
Emerging data reveal a mechanistic link between stromal functions and stem/progenitor capabilities.

Conclusions:

Friedenstein's contributions remain highly relevant to modern stem cell science.
Understanding MSC stromal quality is crucial for unifying the field.
Renewed focus on Friedenstein's work offers a path toward greater coherence in stem cell research.