title: HIF-2α - a mediator of stem cell altruism?
abstract: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been reported to confer cytoprotection in the context of tissue injury. This is somewhat counterintuitive given that microenvironmental factors such as hypoxia and oxidative stress may activate p53 and result in death and differentiation of these hESCs. In this article, we discuss a novel mechanism through which hESCs can be re-programmed (through exposure to hypoxia/oxidative stress) to transiently suppress p53, enhance 'stemness', and exist in a highly cytoprotective and undifferentiated state.
authors.forename: Eoin P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Cummins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53