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This book covers a wide range of topics that illustrate the various functions of autophagy in stem cells and offers insights on the mechanisms by which autophagy can regulate stem-cell self-renewal and facilitate specific differentiation programs. Stem cells are unique cells present in most multicellular animals and are essential for their survival. They have two unique properties: the ability to self-renew and the ability to differentiate into one or more cell types. These characteristics of stem cells have found immense therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine. Autophagy is a crucial membrane trafficking pathway that is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis that involves sequestration of non-functional proteins, protein aggregates and damaged organelles in double-membraned vesicles called autophagosomes, which are subsequently targeted to the lysosome for degradation. The primary aim of this book is to provide knowledge of recent developments in our understanding of the role of autophagy in stem cells, including germline stem cells.Autophagy is considered a promising target for many diseases. Significant efforts are being developed to identify specific modulators of autophagy, which will aid in designing combinatorial therapeutic strategies that will allow significant improvements in regenerative medicine.

Cell differentiation and the development of multicellular organisms are processes of self-assembly, controlled and driven by signaling molecules and cascades including redox regulation. These reactions may have provided the energy for the first metabolic steps in the evolution of life. Today, redox modifications are established as important regulatory events in cellular functions including differentiation and development. Redox modifications of single cysteines regulate differentiation of stem cells, formation of functioning organs, and de-differentiation such as formation of cancer cells. Current cancer therapy is based on redox events as well and regeneration often reactivates developmental pathways. Understanding differentiation and de-differentiation on a molecular level is therefore a prerequisite for the continuing development of new medical therapies. This book summarizes the roles of redox regulation in development by bringing together different concepts and comparing similarities and differences between various cell types and species. An international team of contributors presents several new aspects of redox-regulated differentiation and de-differentiation, including aspects of redox medicine.Key Features Provides the first summary on this important topic Reviews redox-dependent development of model organisms and single organs Highlights the redox-regulated pathways important for differentiation processes Illustrates the potential of redox medicine Combines state-of-the-art knowledge in differentiation/development, aging/longevity, and repair/regeneration Written by leading experts in the field Related TitlesAyyanathan, K., ed. Cancer Cell Signaling: Targeting Signaling Pathways Toward Therapeutic Approaches to Cancer (ISBN 978-1-77188-067-1)Clarke, M. & J. Frampton. Stem Cells: Biology and Application (ISBN 9780-8153-4511-4)Lim, W. & B. Mayer. Cell Signaling: Principles and Mechanisms (ISBN 978-0-8153-4244-1)Wong, E., ed. Autophagy and Signaling (ISBN 978-0-367-65772-7)

This work provides a state-of-the art overview on the most relevant aspects of cell polarity.Volume 1 addresses cell polarity and cell migration (front-rear polarity), cell polarity and barrier formation (apico-basal polarity) and neuronal polarity. It particularly focuses on cell polarity at the molecular level and the underlying molecular mechanisms. It also elaborates the common principles and mechanisms that regulate cellular polarization in different cell types and contexts.Both volumes are intended for professors, group leaders and researchers in cell biology as well as medical professionals in the fields of anatomy, cell biology, physiology, pathology and tumor biology.

This work provides a state-of-the art overview on the most relevant aspects of cell polarity.Volume 2 discusses the physiological and pathophysiological relevance of cell polarity. It especially focuses on pathophysiological conditions in which one or several aspects of cell polarity are impaired, and in which a loss of cell polarity possibly contributes to disease (e.g. epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer, role of polarity proteins in cancer). Both volumes are intended for professors, group leaders and researchers in cell biology as well as for medical professionals working in anatomy, cell biology, physiology, pathology and tumor biology.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a secreted polypeptide with multifunctional properties manifested during embryonic development, adult organ physiology, and pathobiology of major diseases, including cancer and fibrotic and cardiovascular diseases. The signaling pathway of TGF-β now is rather well understood. Continuing revelations in the mechanisms of action of TGF-β provide specific mechanistic examples of how human cells lose their controlled function and behave wrongly during the development of diverse diseases. Equally important, however, is the current promise of exploiting the TGF-β pathway in combating human disease. This book comprehensively covers major areas of human disease where the involvement of TGF-β is firmly established. Simultaneously, the book highlights major gaps in knowledge and the future directions of research that can benefit human medical science. The core set of diseases where TGF-β action is well documented and are included in the book are cancer and cardiovascular and fibrotic disorders. The central aim of the book is to stimulate young scientists to enter the prolific TGF-β field and find new solutions to the problems remaining in this area of study. For this purpose the book provides authoritative educational chapters that furnish a good introduction to the field for young doctoral students, postdocs, and clinical fellows. The book also serves as a valuable reference for the aficionados in the field, who can find accessible and well-illustrated material for their teaching and lecturing activities, via which the importance of TGF-β biology is disseminated to the world of science and to the public.

Mammary Tumor Cell Cycle, Differentiation and Metastasis is the fifth volume since 1988 in a series designed to broadly examine current advances in the cellular and molecular biology of breast cancer. As in previous volumes, the editors have invited recognized experts in cutting-edge topics to provide a chapter focused on their area of research. The editors have turned to the researchers who study rodent models of the disease and to those who study the cellular and molecular basis of human breast cancer. The first section of the book is devoted to new mouse models of mammary development and tumorigenesis. The second section moves to studies of human breast cancer and focuses on receptors, signalling, and the cell cycle. The final section deals with defective tissue interactions in human breast cancer. We are now in a period of extremely rapid accumulation of data on the molecular and cellular biology of breast cancer. These findings are highlighted in chapters from Mammary Tumor Cell Cycle, Differentiation and Metastasis: Advances in Cellular and Molecular Biology of Breast Cancer.

Although much is known with respect to blood cell formation and function, many new concepts in the areas of the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell commitment and the subsequent survival, proliferation, and differentiation of progenitors have been elucidated in the last five years. Our understanding of the microenvironment where stem cells reside and commit to distinct blood types (the niche) has grown significantly in recent years. Furthermore, blood cells have been used as the key model system to study microRNA function and the role of microRNAs in the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells. The current volume Molecular Basis of Hematopoiesis, edited by Amittha Wickrema & Barbara Kee, provides the most recent developments in the area in addition to a chapter on the utilization of basic science knowledge for the treatment of blood diseases. Each chapter in this book has been written and edited by faculty in major academic and research institutions around the world, who are pushing the frontiers of research in this important area.

Development of the oral and craniofacial region is a complex and fascinating set of processes which require a sequential integration of numerous biological steps. For medical and dental doctors, interest is particularly high in this region, because it is composed of three blastoderms - ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm - as well as neural crest cells. There are many different types of neoplasms in this region. In general, proliferation, development and cytological differentiation of the neoplastic cells reflect the normal physiological development of the outbreak mother cells and/or tissues. Collected human neoplasm cases, such as osteosarcoma appearing in the oral and craniofacial region, are examined regarding the immunohistochemical expression of some morphogenesis regulation factors. Furthermore, examination of Notch signaling is also conducted for some odontogenic neoplasms. This book mainly describes the examination results of some morphogenesis regulation factors, such as Notch signaling, in the neoplastic cells originating in the oral and craniofacial region, especially in the odontogenic neoplasms, in both well-differentiated and poorly-differentiated neoplasms of tooth germ enamel organ-derived neoplasm. In general, these morphogenesis regulation factors are responsible for cytological regulation of cell fate, morphogenesis and/or development. The results suggest that these factors play some role in cytological differentiation or acquisition of tissue specific characteristics in neoplastic cells. Furthermore, there would appear to be a relationship between the cytological differentiation in the oral and craniofacial neoplastic cells and the physiological development and differentiation of their originating mother cells and tissues of the oral and craniofacial region.

For the first time world-leading experts in the area of cellular signaling have joined to the production of a book on Smad signal transduction. Smads are the principal intracellular effectors of TGF-b family members that control numerous cellular responses with critical roles in development and in tissue homeostasis. In a series of 22 cutting-edge chapters forward looking reviews of Smads are provided that cover their discovery, evolution, role in development, mechanism of action and regulation, and how deregulation in Smad signalling contributes to human diseases. Written for an audience with basic understanding of molecular and cell biology, this volume provides an in-depth review of a rapidly developing field and extensive cross-references between chapters are provided. This book will be of particular interest to basic and applied biomedical researchers (students, post-docs or group leaders) with desire to understand the principles of cell-cell communication and mechanisms by which signaling pathways and gene programs control cell proliferation and differentiation, and how this knowledge may come to be applied in the clinic.

Stem cells are relatively undifferentiated cells which are the permanent lineage ancestor cells of tissues. Newly developed molecular biological techniques and probes have made possible dramatic advances in our ability to study the lineage development of stem cells. A major impetus to develop these techniques has been to identify specific stem cells for gene therapy purposes. The role that stem cells play in the development of cancer is also an important area. This book provides up-to-date reviews on a wide variety of stem cell systems by world experts. Chapters range from descriptions of the current knowledge of the biology of stem cells, to current molecular biological approaches and clinical implications. Oncologists and cell biologists will find this book of particular interest. It will also be usefule to radiobiologist, biotechnologists, and gene therapists. - Provides reviews of stem cell systems by world experts - Covers stem cell biology in plants, invertebrates, and mammals - Presents clinical implications of stem cell differentiation