TLDR New techniques have enhanced our understanding of how stem cells function and the role of mutations in aging tissues, which may influence future cancer therapies.
The document from December 2016 reviews how clonal analysis has advanced our knowledge of stem cell behavior in tissue maintenance, repair, and disease. It explains that adult stem cells balance self-renewal and differentiation to support tissue turnover and can dedifferentiate in response to injury. For example, in the intestine, certain progenitors can revert to stem cells to replenish the LGR5+ population after damage. The review also notes the heterogeneity within stem cell populations and the use of techniques like clonal analysis, intravital imaging, and single-cell transcriptional profiling to study stem cell dynamics. It discusses the role of stem cells in the intestine, skin, and blood, including their response to injury and the potential for somatic mutations to lead to cancer. In the intestine, stem cells without the Apc gene can dominate a crypt, a precursor to cancer. In squamous epithelia, mutations can offer a short-term growth advantage, while in blood, oncogenic mutations accumulate with age. The document concludes that new techniques have improved our understanding of stem cell behavior and the prevalence of oncogenic mutations in aging tissues, which could impact future cancer treatments.
137 citations,
April 2015 in “Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology” Different types of stem cells with unique roles exist in blood, skin, and intestines, and this variety is important for tissue repair.
426 citations,
August 2014 in “Nature Medicine” Skin stem cells interacting with their environment is crucial for maintaining and regenerating skin and hair, and understanding this can help develop new treatments for skin and hair disorders.
57 citations,
January 2014 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine” Skin stem cells maintain and repair the outer layer of skin, with some types being essential for healing wounds.
135 citations,
December 2013 in “Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology” Stem cells in the hair follicle are regulated by their surrounding environment, which is important for hair growth.
265 citations,
July 2012 in “Cell” The study found that sweat glands contain different types of stem cells that help with healing and maintaining healthy skin.
305 citations,
June 2012 in “Nature” Hair regeneration needs dynamic cell behavior and mesenchyme presence for stem cell activation.
139 citations,
August 2018 in “Development” The niche environment controls stem cell behavior and plasticity, which is important for tissue health and repair.
December 2023 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Different types of inactive melanocyte stem cells exist with unique characteristics and potential to develop into other cells.
48 citations,
February 2016 in “Scientific Reports” Researchers created rat liver stem cells that could help repair liver failure in rats and may be useful for studying human liver diseases.
46 citations,
December 2018 in “Genes & Development” Lung repair involves both dedicated and flexible stem cells, important for developing new treatments.
129 citations,
May 2015 in “Cell Stem Cell” Different types of stem cells exist within individual skin layers, and they can adapt to damage, transplantation, or tumor growth. These cells are regulated by their environment and genetic factors. Tumor growth is driven by expanding, genetically altered cells, not long-lived mutant stem cells. There's evidence of cancer stem cells in skin tumors. Other cells, bacteria, and genetic factors help maintain balance and contribute to disease progression. A method for growing mini organs from single cells has been developed.
