Stem Cell Niches in Mammals
October 2007
in “
Experimental Cell Research
”
TLDR Stem cell niches are crucial for regulating stem cell renewal and differentiation, and understanding them can help in developing regenerative therapies.
The 2007 document reviewed the role of stem cell niches in mammals, focusing on the bone marrow, tooth, and hair follicle niches. It detailed how stem cell niches regulate the balance between self-renewal and differentiation, with the orientation of stem cell division being a key factor. The review highlighted the importance of the Notch signaling pathway and mesenchymal signals like FGF3 and FGF10 in maintaining the stem cell population in the tooth's cervical loop region. It also discussed the role of the Wnt signaling pathway and ß-catenin in hair follicle stem cell commitment, as well as the necessity of Notch1 for postnatal hair follicle maintenance, with its absence leading to hair loss. The document underscored the significance of understanding stem cell niche biology for developing regenerative therapies and the potential of targeting specific signaling pathways for tissue and organ repair, including hair.
