The Stem Cell Niche

January 2019 in “ Elsevier eBooks ”

Arie S. Mobley

TLDR Understanding stem cell environments is key to developing treatments for various diseases and injuries.

The stem cell niche is a microenvironment crucial for maintaining somatic stem cells by preventing premature differentiation and controlling proliferation. This chapter introduced four types of stem cell niches, each with unique compositions and functions, and described the signaling pathways regulating stem cell behavior within these niches. Understanding these niche-stem cell interactions was highlighted as vital for human health, with implications for developing drug targets to prevent cancerous growth, induce quiescence in cancer cells, and address autoimmune and degenerative diseases, congenital disorders, burns, and other injuries.

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Research cited in this study

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research Gab1 and MAPK Signaling Are Essential in the Hair Cycle and Hair Follicle Stem Cell Quiescence

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research Stem Cells and the Niche: A Dynamic Duo

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Stem cell niches are crucial for regulating stem cell behavior and tissue health, and their decline can impact aging and cancer.