干细胞命运决定的分子调控网络

来源于囊胚期胚胎内细胞团的胚胎干细胞具有独特的生物学特性,包括无限自我更新的能力以及分化为内胚层、中胚层和外胚层各种细胞的潜能.阐明胚胎干细胞全能性维持以及向各种特定细胞分化的分子机制,不仅有助于我们了解胚胎发育过程,而且将促进胚胎干细胞尽早应用于疾病治疗.本文主要就干细胞的一种命运决定过程,维持胚胎干细胞全能性或失去全能性开始分化,结合最新的研究进展讨论该过程中的分子调控网络,包括信号转导通路、表达调控网络以及表观遗传调控.

Regulatory network involved in the cell fate determination of embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem cells(ESCs)are derived from the inner cell mass of the pre-implantation embryo at the blastocyst stage.They are characterized by their potential to self-renew indefinitely and to differentiate into any of the three germ layers-endoderm,mesoderm and ectoderm.Discovering how ESCs pluripotency and lineage induction is achieved is important for understanding normal development and for successfully applying stem cell-based therapies.In this review,we will consider the factors that influence cell fate of ESCs,taking as a primary example of maintenance of pluripotency in ESCs versus loss of pluripotency on differentiation.