title: Nuclear factor one transcription factors: Divergent functions in developmental versus adult stem cell populations.
abstract: Nuclear factor one (NFI) transcription factors are a group of site-specific DNA-binding proteins that are emerging as critical regulators of stem cell biology. During development NFIs promote the production of differentiated progeny at the expense of stem cell fate, with Nfi null mice exhibiting defects such as severely delayed brain and lung maturation, skeletomuscular defects and renal abnormalities, phenotypes that are often consistent with patients with congenital Nfi mutations. Intriguingly, recent research suggests that in adult tissues NFI factors play a qualitatively different role than during development, with NFIs serving to promote the survival and maintenance of slow-cycling adult stem cell populations rather than their differentiation. Here we review the role of NFI factors in development, largely focusing on their role as promoters of stem cell differentiation, and attempt to reconcile this with the emerging role of NFIs in adult stem cell niches.
authors.affiliation: The School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Lachlan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Genovesi
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gronostajski
authors.forename: Brandon J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wainwright
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piper
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D051839:NFI Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051839:NFI Transcription Factors
keywords: adult; development; embryonic; niche; nuclear factor one; organogenesis; stem cell; transcription factor