Premium
Cell‐fusion‐mediated somatic‐cell reprogramming: A mechanism for tissue regeneration
Author(s) -
Lluis Frederic,
Cosma Maria Pia
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.22003
Subject(s) - reprogramming , cell fusion , somatic cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , induced pluripotent stem cell , biology , regeneration (biology) , stem cell , fusion mechanism , genetics , lipid bilayer fusion , embryonic stem cell , gene , virus
Spontaneous cell fusion between two cells of different lineages will originate new hybrid cells that have different features from the original parent cells. It has been shown that injury to a tissue can enhance spontaneous cell–cell fusion events. If one of the parent cells of a cell–cell fusion is highly plastic, such as a stem cell, and the other is a somatic cell, their fusion can be followed by reprogramming events that can generate new hybrid pluripotent cells. These, in turn, have the potential to differentiate and regenerate the damaged tissue. However, if this process is deregulated, this would provide a mechanism for cancer development. J. Cell. Physiol. 223: 6–13, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.