title: Microenvironment-evoked cell lineage conversion: Shifting the focus from internal reprogramming to external forcing.
abstract: Seeking possible ways to create replacement cells for the faded ones with deficits in functionality or quantity inspires comprehensive needs for cell lineage conversion. To fulfill this promise, reprogramming and microenvironment direction have been used to manipulate abundant cell fates. We briefly describe the evolution and fundamental insights of these two major strategies applied for lineage specification, comment generally on their current limitations, and analyze the orchestral interplay between them. We also present several future directions and discuss the potential clinical uses. Based on the relatively slight safety and technical issues, we conclude that microenvironment-evoked cell lineage conversion, instead of reprogramming, will be the shifting focus in regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mei-rong
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong-dong
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ti
authors.forename: Mei-xia
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hao-jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Ya-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiao-bing
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Wei-dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology