The role of FGF/Erk signaling in pluripotent cells.
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling controls fundamental processes such as proliferation, differentiation and migration throughout mammalian development. Here we discuss recent discoveries that implicate FGF/Erk signaling in the control of pluripotency and lineage specification in several different stem cell states, including the separation of pluripotent epiblast and primitive endoderm in the blastocyst, the lineage priming of embryonic stem (ES) cells, and in the stabilization of the metastable state of mouse epiblast and human ES cells. Understanding how extrinsic signals such as FGF regulate different stem cell states will be crucial to harvest the clinical promise of induced pluripotent and embryo-derived stem cells.
Lanner
Fredrik
F
Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Rossant
Janet
J
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases