Adult stem cells: the real root into the embryo?
During embryonic development, a pool of cells may become a reserve of undifferentiated cells, the embryo-stolen adult stem cells (ESASC). ESASC may be responsible for adult tissue homeostasis, as well as disease development. Transdifferentiation is a sort of reprogramming of ESASC from one germ layer-derived tissue towards another. Transdifferentiation has been described to take place from mesoderm to ectodermal- or endodermal-derived tissues and viceversa but not from ectodermal- to endodermal-derived tissues. We hypothesise that two different populations of ESASC could exist, the first ecto/mesoblast-committed and the second endo/mesoblast-committed. If confirmed, this hypothesis could lead to new studies on the molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation and to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of a number of diseases.
Zummo
G
G
Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Palermo, Italy. gzummo@unipa.it
Bucchieri
F
F
Cappello
F
F
Bellafiore
M
M
La Rocca
G
G
David
S
S
Di Felice
V
V
Anzalone
R
R
Peri
G
G
Palma
A
A
Farina
F
F
D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*