Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Apoptosis and Signal Transmission

Regeneration and proliferation of stem cells are controlled, in part, by the induction of apoptosis. The number of stem cells is therefore a balance between those lost in differentiation / apoptosis and those gained by proliferation. Stem cell apoptosis is believed to be a flexible process in response to environmental conditions. For example, the release of stem cell factor prevents apoptosis following spinal cord injury, possibly in an effort to promote tissue repair. Dysregulation of apoptosis in stem cells is believed to be associated with cancer pathologies, where apoptotic resistance causes uncontrolled growth .Controlling apoptosis is also important in stem cell transplant studies, where prevention may increase the survival of grafted cells during further treatment. Binding the full potential to treat stem cells will require a full specification of signal transduction cascades for proliferation, isolation, and apoptosis.