Our perception of developmental plasticity: esse est percipi (to be is to be perceived)?

Curr Stem Cell Res Ther

Frankel Laboratory, Center for Stem Cell Research, Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva 49202, Israel.

Published: January 2006

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study of stem cells is growing due to new findings about their ability to adapt and change, known as developmental plasticity.
  • The definitions of stem cells, especially in terms of their ability to self-renew and differentiate, may need to be re-evaluated as we learn more about their functions and gene expression.
  • There seems to be a spectrum of "stemness," with embryonic stem cells at one end and more limited tissue-specific stem cells at the other, but it's still unclear how these cells can shift along this spectrum.

Article Abstract

The continuing interest in the biology of stem cells is enhanced by new discoveries surrounding developmental plasticity of both embryonic and adult stem cells. Adoptive transfer of concepts and definitions from the hematopoietic system to other tissue stem cells suggests inclusion of characteristics such as ability to self-renew and differentiate to functionally reconstitute a tissue/organ of origin. How adequate and accurate are these definitions? Within the great unknown of how these cells function, modulate their gene expression patterns and respond to extrinsic signals, it is apparent that there are numerous levels of stemness. We may envision a scale of developmental flexibility. At one end of the scale are positioned the embryonic stem cells, and at the other end are positioned partially-differentiated, differentiation restricted (committed) tissue/organ stem cells. There is evidence that some stem cells in the adult are pluripotent, thus positioned close to the embryonic end of the stem scale. It is uncertain yet to what extent stem cells can move back and forth along the stem scale.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488806775269089DOI Listing

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