Stem cells and the niche: a dynamic duo.
Stem cell niches are dynamic microenvironments that balance stem cell activity to maintain tissue homeostasis and repair throughout the lifetime of an organism. The development of strategies to monitor and perturb niche components has provided insight into the responsive nature of the niche and offers a framework to uncover how disruption of normal stem cell niche function may contribute to aging and disease onset and progression. Additional work in the identification of genetic factors that regulate the formation, activity, and size of stem cell niches will facilitate incorporation of the niche into stem cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine.
Voog
Justin
J
Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Jones
D Leanne
DL
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006801:Humans; D012038:Regeneration; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*