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Single-Cell Analysis in Cancer
Published in Inna Kuperstein, Emmanuel Barillot, Computational Systems Biology Approaches in Cancer Research, 2019
Inna Kuperstein, Emmanuel Barillot
Multicellular organisms consist of different cell types that give rise to a multitude of organs and tissues with distinct functions. These cell type-specific functions are acquired during development in a process called cellular differentiation, whereby pluripotent stem cells undergo a sequence of gene expression changes to give rise to all mature cell types. Moreover, in adult organisms tissue-resident stem cells remain crucial for tissue homeostasis in organs with high turnover such as skin, gut or blood, where mature cell types constantly need to be replenished within a few days to maintain organ function.3 Yet in other organs, such as the liver, stem cells show lower turnover at homeostatic conditions, but can boost their proliferation significantly to regenerate tissue after injury.4
Medical biotechnology
Published in Firdos Alam Khan, Biotechnology Fundamentals, 2018
ES cells are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early-stage embryo, known as a blastocyst. These inner cell mass consist of 50–150 cells. One unique property of ES cells is pluripotency. This means that the cells are able to differentiate into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm (Figure 9.7). These include each of the more than 220 cell types in the adult body. Pluripotency (ability to form all types of cells) distinguishes ES cells from multipotent (ability to form specific types of cells like the ectoderm that will form only ectodermic type of cells not the endodermic and mesodermic types of cells) progenitor cells found in the adult. ES cells can maintain pluripotency for many cell divisions. The presence of pluripotent adult stem cells remains a subject of scientific debate, although research has demonstrated that pluripotent stem cells may have therapeutic potential. Because of their plasticity and potentially unlimited capacity for self-renewal, ES cell therapies have been proposed for regenerative medicine and tissue replacement for a number of blood- and immune-system-related genetic diseases, cancers, and disorders; juvenile diabetes; Parkinson’s disease; blindness; and spinal cord injuries.
Substrate Guided Cell Behavior in Regenerative Engineering
Published in Yusuf Khan, Cato T. Laurencin, Regenerative Engineering, 2018
Stem cells hold enormous potential for a broad spectrum of applications in regenerative engineering – from in vitro technological platforms and model systems to cell-based therapies – owing to their ability to self-renew and differentiate into a wide range of specialized cell types. The interaction of stem cells with their surrounding microenvironment is fundamental to multiple cellular processes such as cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis.1–4 Historically, considerable emphasis has been placed on using soluble regulators to control stem cell fate and commitment, but studies over the last two decades have shown that the “insoluble” component, the extracellular matrix (ECM), plays an equally important role in regulating various cellular functions, including stem cell growth and differentiation. The ECM has been recognized as a reservoir of biochemical and biophysical signals that actively mediates various cellular processes, contributing to tissue morphogenesis, homeostasis, and regeneration.5 When the ECM is perturbed, those same interactions could contribute to many diseases like cancer6–8 and fibrosis.9
Consequences of space radiation on the brain and cardiovascular system
Published in Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part C, 2021
Catherine M. Davis, Antiño R. Allen, Dawn E. Bowles
The primary purpose of the cardiovascular system is to distribute blood, which carries nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and blood cells to and from the cells in the body. Major anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system include the heart, blood, and blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries). Cell types composing the cardiovascular system include cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, progenitor/stem cells, pericytes and mast cells.