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Heparan sulfate regulation of progenitor cell fate
Author(s) -
Cool Simon M.,
Nurcombe Victor
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.20936
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , heparan sulfate , progenitor cell , cell fate determination , progenitor , chemistry , cell , biology , biochemistry , stem cell , transcription factor , gene
Currently there is an intense effort being made to elucidate the factors that control stem and progenitor cell fate. Developments in our understanding of the FGF/FGFR pathway and its role as an effector of stem cell pluripotency have heightened expectations that a therapeutic use for stem cells will move from a possibility to a probability. Mounting evidence is revealing the molecular mechanisms by which fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling, together with a large number of other growth and adhesive factors, is controlled by the extracellular sugar, heparan sulfate (HS). What has resulted is a novel means of augmenting and thus regulating the growth factor control of stem and progenitor cell fate. Here, we review the numerous bioactivities of HS, and the development of strategies to implement HS‐induced control of cell fate decisions. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 1040–1051, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.