Stem cells, signals and vertebrate body axis extension.
The progressive generation of chick and mouse axial tissues - the spinal cord, skeleton and musculature of the body - has long been proposed to depend on the activity of multipotent stem cells. Here, we evaluate evidence for the existence and multipotency of axial stem cells. We show that although the data strongly support their existence, there is little definitive information about their multipotency or extent of contribution to the axis. We also review the location and molecular characteristics of these putative stem cells, along with their evolutionary conservation in vertebrates and the signalling mechanisms that regulate and arrest axis extension.
Wilson
Valerie
V
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ, UK.
Olivera-Martinez
Isabel
I
Storey
Kate G
KG
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D051379:Mice; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D041641:Musculoskeletal Development; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*