title: Mechanisms that mediate stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.
abstract: Stem cells have two common properties: the capacity for self-renewal and the potential to differentiate into one or more specialized cell types. In general, stem cells can be divided into two broad categories: adult (somatic) stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Recent evidence suggested that tumors may contain "cancer stem cells" with indefinite potential for self-renewal. In this review, we will focus on the molecular mechanisms regulating embryonic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, and discuss how these mechanisms may be relevant in cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine 04074, USA.
authors.forename: Haojian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zack Z
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors