Stem Cell Renewal and Differentiation

Among the most investigated are the mechanisms that regulate stem cell function in the nervous and hematopoietic systems. Therefore, hematopoietic stem cells, which give rise to all blood and immune system cells, and neural crest stem cells, which give rise to the peripheral nervous system, are among the best-characterized stem cells. We are just beginning to understand how their functions are regulated. The conserved mechanisms have long been hypothesized as the mode of stem cell regulation. However, testing this requires interdisciplinary approaches. The ultimate goal is to integrate what we know about stem cells in different tissues to understand the extent to which they employ similar or different mechanisms to regulate critical functions. We have focused so far on the mechanisms that regulate stem cell self-renewal, aging, and their role in organogenesis.