Journal
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
Volume 125, Issue 23, Pages 5609-5620Publisher
COMPANY BIOLOGISTS LTD
DOI: 10.1242/jcs.096032
Keywords
Stem cells; Small molecules; Self-renewal; Reprogramming
Categories
Funding
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- National Eye Institute
- National Institute of Mental Health/National Institute of Health [HD064610, HL107436, EY021374]
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
- Prostate Cancer Foundation
- Gladstone Institute
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Despite the great potential of stem cells for basic research and clinical applications, obstacles - such as their scarce availability and difficulty in controlling their fate - need to be addressed to fully realize their potential. Recent achievements of cellular reprogramming have enabled the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or other lineage-committed cells from more accessible and abundant somatic cell types by defined genetic factors. However, serious concerns remain about the efficiency and safety of current genetic approaches to cell reprogramming and traditional culture systems that are used for stem cell maintenance. As a complementary approach, small molecules that target specific signaling pathways, epigenetic processes and other cellular processes offer powerful tools for manipulating cell fate to a desired outcome. A growing number of small molecules have been identified to maintain the self-renewal potential of stem cells, to induce lineage differentiation and to facilitate reprogramming by increasing the efficiency of reprogramming or by replacing genetic reprogramming factors. Furthermore, mechanistic investigations of the effects of these chemicals also provide new biological insights. Here, we examine recent achievements in the maintenance of stem cells, including pluripotent and lineage-specific stem cells, and in the control of cell fate conversions, including iPSC reprogramming, conversion of primed to naive pluripotency, and transdifferentiation, with an emphasis on manipulation with small molecules.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available