Updated 12/8/2016, originally posted by Laura Braden 2/2/16
Understanding what stem cells do and why they are important has been a popular research topic for many years. Scientists have learned quite a bit about their functions, such as repairing damaged tissues and renewing some normal ones. However, there is no knowledge of where these stem cells originate and how they develop in the embryo.
Recently, a team of researchers from Rockefeller University in New York discovered the mechanism involved in transforming regular cells into stem cells during development.
Researchers already know that clusters of stem cells receive signals from a group of special cells called the "niche". These niche cells reside in a separate location, and the type of signal they transmit determines whether a cell is destined to become a stem cell or serve a different purpose. The niche is also responsible for maintaining populations of adult stem cells. With this knowledge in mind, the Rockefeller team set out to gain a better understanding of how the niche forms.
“Adult stem cells are dependent on the niche for instructions on both how to become a stem cell, and how to control stem cell population size,” explained study author Tamara Ouspenskaia. “The question was, does the niche appear first and call other cells over to become stem cells? Or is it the other way around? Stem cells could be appearing elsewhere first and then recruiting the niche.”
For this study, the research team focused on studying the cell divisions that occur at the hair follicles of mice, a region known to contain active stem cells. Through observation, the team found that there are distinct layers of tissue. Some cells remain fixed in a single layer for their entire life cyle, while other cells have the ability to move around and become stem cells in a new location. Not only is this the earliest known point of development for stem cells, but it also shows that these cells may develop before the niche is formed.
Knowing that molecular signaling from other cells plays a part in determining the type of a newly-formed cell, the New York team observed the signaling in the hair follicle cells. They noticed that the signaling activity differed in two types of hair follicle cells that were destined for different layers. This led to the question of how signaling determines cells' fate.
The mobile cell was found to have lower levels of WNT signaling, which is known to be involved in embryonic development, and higher WNT levels were found in the fixed cell. Another signal, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) was found to be involved in instructing cells to become stem cells in locations with lower levels of WNT.
Elaine Fuchs, Ph.D. explained, “This newly identified signaling cross talk provides insights into why these two signals have such a profound impact on skin cancers, where the numbers of cancerous tissue-propagating stem cells are excessive. This work now paves the way for future research into the fascinating and clinically important relation between tumor-propagating and normal stem cells.”
This research was published in the journal Cell on January 14, 2016.
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In the 2015 fiscal year, the university received more than $61.5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Departments at the University receiving substantial amounts of this funding include:
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