Stem cell characteristics
Endless asymmetric division (–> 1 diff cell and 1 stem cell),
Self-renewal
Ability of a cell to proliferate in the same state
Environmental asymmetry of stem cells
When the environment of the daughter cells determines which differentiates and which is 2nd stem cell
Divisional asymmetry
When presence/absence of specific RNA or proteins determines which daughter cell is the stem cell and which differentiates
(both still have same DNA)
Progenitor cell
A committed, “transit” amplifying cell
(From stem cell, partially differentiated, but not final product)
Totipotent stem cells
from Zygote only,
Can differentiate into ANY cell of body
– even trophoblasts (placenta cells)!
Pluripotent stem cells
Can differentiate into anything except trophoblasts
*Aka: embryonic stem cells
– from inner cell mass of blastocyst
Multipotent stem cell
Can differentiate into a limited number of adult cell types
(often in specific tissue niche, ie: skin, intestine/gut, etc.)
ie: hematopoeitic stem cells (make the various blood cells)
Unipotent stem cell
Can only differentiate into a single cell type
Stem cell niche
Areas in adult body where stem cells produce daughter cells,
Secrete paracrine factors that prevent differentiation until after leave niche.
– to protect the stem cells AND limit differentiation (in niche)
ie: crypt in intestine (BUT not always a physical pit)
MSC (mesenchymal stem cell)
multipotent stem cell,
in adult bone marrow, adipose tissue, dental pulp, breast milk, intestine, etc.
– can give rise to multiple tissue types.
= source of stem cells for research.
(potential) sources of stem cells
embryonic stem cells
can generate ANY cell type (except trophoblasts).
how? - extra accessible chromatin structure
- DNA methylation pattern
- express MANY surface receptors, all at low level
(can respond to most signals)
regulatory factors for embyronic stem cells
“master regulators” = Oct4, Sox2, Nanog;
activate genes for self-renewal,
repress genes for specific (differentiated) pathways
iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell)
de-differentiated nucleus,
treated with 4 TFs to convert adult cell back into pluripotent stem cell
(TFs: c-Myc, Sox2, Klf4 and Oct-3/4)
HOX genes
encode transcription factors that regulate specification of cell identity;
regulation of Hox gene expression
largely unknown, but do know:
induction
a response by a group of cells (responder tissue) to a signal from a different group of cells (inducer tissue).
–> responsible for patterns of differentiation and dvpt in embryo,
often occur in series/cascade
Organs induced by TGF-beta
mechanism of TGF-beta induction
TGF-beta —-> phosphorylate and dimerize SMADs
(active SMADs –> regulate transcription)
morphogenesis
how organs and tissues are developed (embryologically); relies on 3 factors: 1. cell adhesion 2. cell migration 3. apoptosis
mechanism of Shh induction
Sonic Hedgehog
indirectly activates transcription;
Shh binds to (INactivates) “Patched” receptor –> active “smoothened” inhibits degraders of Gli3;
==> active Gli3 into nucleus (increase trans.)
(NO Shh: active patched–> inhibit smoothened –> degrade Gli3)
diseases associated with Shh pathway mutations
induction by FGF
binds to tyrosine receptor kinase –> activate MAP k –> regulate transcription;
* esp. for bone development*
Associated diseases:
achondroplasia and thanatophoric dysplasia