title: Adhesion in the stem cell niche: biological roles and regulation.
abstract: Stem cell self-renewal is tightly controlled by the concerted action of stem cell-intrinsic factors and signals within the niche. Niche signals often function within a short range, allowing cells in the niche to self-renew while their daughters outside the niche differentiate. Thus, in order for stem cells to continuously self-renew, they are often anchored in the niche via adhesion molecules. In addition to niche anchoring, however, recent studies have revealed other important roles for adhesion molecules in the regulation of stem cell function, and it is clear that stem cell-niche adhesion is crucial for stem cell self-renewal and is dynamically regulated. Here, we highlight recent progress in understanding adhesion between stem cells and their niche and how this adhesion is regulated.
authors.affiliation: Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.
authors.forename: Shuyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewallen
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins