title: Cellular plasticity: 1712 to the present day.
abstract: Cell identity is a fundamental feature of cells. Tissues are often organized into cellular hierarchies characterized by progressive differentiation and developmental commitment. However, it is been historically evident that the cells of many organisms of various phyla, especially in the context of injury, exhibit remarkable plasticity in terms of their ability to convert into other cell types. Recent modern studies, using genetic lineage tracing, have demonstrated that many mature functional cells retain a potential to undergo lineage reversion (dedifferentiation) or to convert into cells of other more distant lineages (transdifferentiation) following injury. Similarly, mimicking progenitor cell transdetermination, stem cells can interconvert. These forms of plasticity may be essential for organismal survival, and are likely part and parcel of regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Purushothama Rao
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Tata
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Otology and Laryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: jrajagopal@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Jayaraj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rajagopal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D000066670:Cell Plasticity; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D012038:Regeneration; D009626:Terminology as Topic