Basic fibroblast growth factor and its receptors in human embryonic stem cells
Language English Country Poland Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review
PubMed
16382885
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Models, Biological MeSH
- Cell Differentiation physiology MeSH
- Embryo, Mammalian cytology physiology MeSH
- Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 * genetics metabolism physiology MeSH
- Stem Cells cytology physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor * genetics metabolism physiology MeSH
- Signal Transduction physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Review MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 * MeSH
- Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor * MeSH
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are pluripotent stem cells with long-lasting capacity to self-renew and differentiate into various cell types of endodermal, ectodermal or mesodermal origin. Unlike mouse ESCs (mESCs), which can be maintained in an undifferentiated state simply by adding leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) into the culture medium, hESCs are notorious for the sustained willingness to differentiate and not yet clearly defined signaling pathways that are crucial for their "stemness". Presently, our knowledge involves only limited number of growth factor signaling pathways that appear to be biologically relevant for stem cell functions in vitro. These include BMP, TGFbeta, Wnt, and FGF signaling pathway. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent data on the expression of FGFs and their receptors in hESCs, and critically evaluate the potential effects of FGF signals for their undifferentiated growth and/or differentiation in context with our current understanding of FGF/FGFR biology.
