title: New insights into redox regulation of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reactive oxygen species (ROS), the natural byproducts of aerobic metabolism, are precisely orchestrated to evoke diverse signaling pathways. To date, studies have focused mainly on the detrimental effects of ROS in stem cells. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that ROS also function as second messengers that modulate stem cell self-renewal and differentiation by regulating intricate signaling networks. Although many efforts have been made to clarify the general effects of ROS on signal transduction in stem cells, less is known about the initial and direct executors of ROS signaling, which are known as 'redox sensors'.
  
  
  METHODS
  Modifications of cysteine residues in redox sensors are of significant importance in the modulation of protein function in response to different redox conditions. Intriguingly, most key molecules in ROS signaling and cell cycle regulation (including transcriptional factors and kinases) that are crucial in the regulation of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation have the potential to be redox sensors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We highlight herein the importance of redox regulation of these key regulators in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the mechanisms of redox regulation in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation will open exciting new perspectives for stem cell biology. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Redox regulation of differentiation and de-differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Nanbu County People's Hospital, Nanchong 637300, PR China.
authors.forename: Fenglian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The School of Biomedical Sciences, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia. Electronic address: ed.nice@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Edouard Collins
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Nice
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China. Electronic address: hcanhua@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Canhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Cysteine; ROS; Redox modification; Self-renewal; Stem cell