The role of some donor-host cell interactions under a microenvironmental influence during regeneration processes

This review of publications is dedicated to the analysis of experimental data concerning the possible mechanisms constituting the basis of transdifferentiation or plasticity of tissue-specific stem cells. In the review, we focused on the mechanisms and genetic consequences of fusion between donor cells and recipient tissue cells that were investigated using models of cell therapy for liver and heart diseases. The role of intercellular contacts of different types and horizontal gene transfer during the heart tissue regeneration process was also considered.