title: Epigenetic approaches to regeneration of bone and cartilage from stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or adult stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have been intensively studied for skeletal tissue regeneration including bone and cartilage. Epigenetic mechanisms play essential roles in stem cell maintenance and differentiation. However, little is known about the epigenetic regulation of osteogenesis and chondrogenesis of stem cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, features of ESCs and adult stem cells, epigenetics and chromatin structure, as well as epigenetic mechanisms, such as chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation and histone modifications, polycomb group (PcG) proteins and microRNAs are described. Epigenetic researches of stem cell are introduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epigenetic alterations of stem cell during the in vitro differentiation can be controlled for clinical applications. MSCs are effective resources for skeletal tissue regeneration in both undifferentiated and differentiated states. Understanding epigenetic signatures of MSC is crucial to maintain the stemness. In addition, investigation of epigenetic changes in the differentiation of MSCs is very important to develop methods or chemicals to promote efficient differentiation of MSCs. Inhibition of PcG protein enhancer of zeste (Ezh2) a chromatin modifier, could be a promising candidate to improve MSC differentiation by decreasing Ezh2-mediated H3K27me3.
authors.affiliation: Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics , Goyang , Korea +82 31 961 7315 ; +82 31 961 7314 ; gunil@duih.org.
authors.forename: Gun-Il
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Kyung-Ju
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: chondrogenesis; epigenetics; osteogenesis; skeletal tissue regeneration; stem cells