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Environmentally induced changes in adult stem cell function
Author(s) -
Schatteman Gina C
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a33
Subject(s) - stem cell , haematopoiesis , bone marrow , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell theory of aging , biology , adult stem cell , hematopoietic stem cell , bone marrow stem cell , clinical uses of mesenchymal stem cells , stem cell factor , immunology , endothelial stem cell , genetics , in vitro
Fate decisions in the embryo are controlled by cues in the environment. Adult stem cell fates may be more limited, but they too are dictated by the environment. While studies in the embryo may give clues as to how this fate choice is made, fate decisions in the adult are influenced by disease and aging. Studies on bone marrow‐derived stem cells give a glimpse of how the local and systemic environment impact adult stem cell function. Hematopoietic stem cells from adult bone marrow normally restrict themselves to hematopoietic fates. Yet, in certain circumstances bone marrow‐derived cells can differentiate into non‐hematopoietic cell types. This fate choice appears to be governed by the age and health of the animal. Of course, a subset of hematopoietic stem cells in the circulation, may never lose their stemness. Some of these circulating cells appear to secrete factors that accelerate and improve healing of injured tissues, but here too, systemic and local environmental factors modulate their capacity to do so. Much has been made of the potential of adult stem cells to potentiate tissue repair, but their capacity to do so will be dependent on intrinsic properties of the cells as well as the milieu in which they find themselves. This talk will address the effect of aging and disease on bone marrow‐derived stem cell function and their impact on the potential of adult stem cells to be harnessed for therapeutic uses.