Cited by 369Pluripotent Stem Cells ResearchMesenchymal stem cell researchCongenital heart defects research

Adult cell plasticity in vivo: de-differentiation and transdifferentiation are back in style

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Merrell, Allyson J., Stanger, Ben Z.·2016·Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Abstract

Biologists have long been intrigued by the possibility that cells can change their identity, a phenomenon known as cellular plasticity. The discovery that terminally differentiated cells can be experimentally coaxed to become pluripotent has invigorated the field, and recent studies have demonstrated that changes in cell identity are not limited to the laboratory. Specifically, certain adult cells retain the capacity to de-differentiate or transdifferentiate under physiological conditions, as part of an organ's normal injury response. Recent studies have highlighted the extent to which cell plasticity contributes to tissue homeostasis, findings that have implications for cell-based therapy.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrm.2016.24

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  • Cell reprogramming often occurs in highly specialized regions of injured tissues.

    “In addition, cell reprogramming often occurs in highly specialized regions of injured tissues.11”

    From Kupffer-cell-derived IL-6 is repurposed for hepatocyte dedifferentiation via activating progenitor genes from injury-specific enhancers (2023) · cites this paper as [11]

    The section “Microenvironment as a de-differentiation driver or obstacle” (page unavailable) describes reprogramming that depends on localized structures, including the hair-follicle niche and intestinal crypt. The amphibian limb-regeneration section (page unavailable) also places de-differentiation near an amputation site. These examples support reprogramming in particular regions after injury, but the review does not establish that it often occurs in highly specialized regions across injured tissues generally. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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Authors
Merrell, A. J., & Stanger, B. Z.
Affiliations
University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
Stanger, Ben Z.
Venue
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Published
2016-03-16
Volume
17
Issue
7
Pages
413-425
ISSN
  • 1471-0072 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0080
OpenAlex
W2300048866
Cited by
369
References
124
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1
FWCI
2.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA169123)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (UC4DK104196)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Mesenchymal stem cell research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Congenital heart defects research
Keywords
cellular plasticity, dedifferentiation, transdifferentiation, terminally differentiated cells, tissue homeostasis, cell therapy, pluripotency
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, Humans, Neoplasms, Regeneration, Signal Transduction, Adult Stem Cells, Cell Dedifferentiation, Cell Transdifferentiation

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