Adult reserve stem cells and their potential for tissue engineering

Henry E. Young, Cecile Duplaa, Marina Romero-Ramos, Marie Francoise Chesselet, Patrick Vourc'h, Michael J. Yost, Kurt Ericson, Louis Terracio, Takayuki Asahara, Haruchika Masuda, Sayaka Tamura-Ninomiya, Kristina Detmer, Robert A. Bray, Timothy A. Steele, Douglas Hixson, Mohammad El-Kalay, Brian W. Tobin, Roy D. Russ, Michael N. Horst, Julie A. FloydNicholas L. Henson, Kristina C. Hawkins, Jaime Groom, Amar Parikh, Lisa Blake, Laura J. Bland, Angela J. Thompson, Amy Kirincich, Catherine Moreau, John Hudson, Frank P. Bowyer, T. J. Lin, Asa C. Black

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Tissue restoration is the process whereby multiple damaged cell types are replaced to restore the histoarchitecture and function to the tissue. Several theories have been proposed to explain the phenomenon of tissue restoration in amphibians and in animals belonging to higher orders. These theories include dedifferentiation of damaged tissues, transdifferentiation of lineage-committed progenitor cells, and activation of reserve precursor cells. Studies by Young et al. and others demonstrated that connective tissue compartments throughout postnatal individuals contain reserve precursor cells. Subsequent repetitive single cell-cloning and cell-sorting studies revealed that these reserve precursor cells consisted of multiple populations of cells, including tissue-specific progenitor cells, germ-layer lineage stem cells, and pluripotent stem cells. Tissue-specific progenitor cells display various capacities for differentiation, ranging from unipotency (forming a single cell type) to multipotency (forming multiple cell types). However, all progenitor cells demonstrate a finite life span of 50 to 70 population doublings before programmed cell senescence and cell death occurs. Germ-layer lineage stem cells can form a wider range of cell types than a progenitor cell. An individual germ-layer lineage stem cell can form all cells types within its respective germ-layer lineage (i.e., ectoderm, mesoderm, or endoderm). Pluripotent stem cells can form a wider range of cell types than a single germ-layer lineage stem cell. A single pluripotent stem cell can form cells belonging to all three germ layer lineages. Both germ-layer lineage stem cells and pluripotent stem cells exhibit extended capabilities for self-renewal, far surpassing the limited life span of progenitor cells (50-70 population doublings). The authors propose that the activation of quiescent tissue-specific progenitor cells, germ-layer lineage stem cells, and/or pluripotent stem cells may be a potential explanation, along with dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation, for the process of tissue restoration. Several model systems are currently being investigated to determine the possibilities of using these adult quiescent reserve precursor cells for tissue engineering.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-80
Number of pages80
JournalCell Biochemistry and Biophysics
Volume40
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2004

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Diabetes
  • Embyonic
  • Humans
  • Infarction
  • Mammals
  • Mesenchymal
  • Neurodegenerative
  • Pluripotent
  • Stem cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Adult reserve stem cells and their potential for tissue engineering'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this