title: Differentiation versus plasticity: fixing the fate of undetermined adult stem cells.
abstract: Adult mesenchymal stem cells own a considerable plasticity, which enables them to respond to various extra- and intracellular cues and exert, at least partially, various differentiation pathways. Recently, we have shown that multipotent adult stem cells (MASCs) derived from the mouse bone marrow (mBM-MASCs) consist of distinct cell populations that have similar differentiation abilities but differ in the expression of several stem cell markers. Despite their remarkable developmental potential MASCs seem to miss crucial components to complete specific differentiation programs necessary to acquire a fully functional phenotype. A thorough analysis of active and inactive regulatory circuits in multipotent adult stem cells might lead the way to a controlled programming of these cells and rational therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Parkstr, Germany.
authors.forename: Fikru Belema
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Bedada
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubin
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D024510:Muscle Development; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor