Regulatory Mechanisms in Stem Cell Biology

Abstract

Stem cells are a subject of intense and increasing interest because of their biological properties and potential medical importance. Unfortunately, the field has been difficult for the nonspecialist to penetrate, in part because of ambiguity about what exactly constitutes a stem cell. A working definition is useful in order to pose the important questions in stem cell biology. However, since different people define stem cells in different ways (for examples, see37 and 76), formulating a generally acceptable definition can lead to a conclusion similar to that of U. S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White's in regard to pornography: “It's hard to define, but I know it when I see it.” A minimalist definition is that stem cells have the capacity both to self-renew and to generate differentiated progeny. Although this is in many respects inadequate, it immediately highlights some important problems: How at each cell division is a stem cell able to pass on its “stem” properties to at least one of its two daughters? And what determines whether stem cell divisions will be self-renewing, or differentiating?