title: Cell fusion and reprogramming: resolving our transdifferences.
abstract: Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) can contribute to the regeneration of diverse adult tissues, including brain, liver and heart, following bone marrow transplantation. These unexpected events were initially considered a result of transdifferentiation of BMDCs, supporting the emerging idea of extended plasticity of adult stem cells. Although studies have now clearly demonstrated that spontaneous cell fusion, rather than transdifferentiation, was the primary cause for unexpected cell fate-switches of BMDCs into hepatocytes, Purkinje cells and cardiac myocytes in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Nemanja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodić
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rutenberg
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Terada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002459:Cell Fusion; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012038:Regeneration; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006867:Hydrolases; C020156:fumarylacetoacetase