Role of Gap Junctions in Embryonic and Somatic Stem Cells

Overview

Journal Stem Cell Rev

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2008 Aug 16

PMID 18704771

Citations 37

Authors

Raymond C B Wong

Martin F Pera

Alice Pebay

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Stem cells provide an invaluable tool to develop cell replacement therapies for a range of serious disorders caused by cell damage or degeneration. Much research in the field is focused on the identification of signals that either maintain stem cell pluripotency or direct their differentiation. Understanding how stem cells communicate within their microenvironment is essential to achieve their therapeutic potentials. Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) has been described in embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and various somatic stem cells. GJIC has been implicated in regulating different biological events in many stem cells, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. This review summarizes the current understanding of gap junctions in both embryonic and somatic stem cells, as well as their potential role in growth control and cellular differentiation.

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