干细胞命运决定的分子调控网络

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

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。

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.