the function of e-cadherin in stem cell pluripotency and self-renewal钙粘蛋白的功能在干细胞多能性和自我更新.pdf

Genes 2011, 2, 229-259; doi:10.3390/genes2010229 OPEN ACCESS genes ISSN 2073-4425 /journal/genes Review The Function of E-Cadherin in Stem Cell Pluripotency and Self-Renewal Francesca Soncin and Christopher M. Ward * Core Technology Facility, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, M13 9NT, UK; E-Mail: fsoncin@ * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: christopher.ward@manchester.ac.uk; Tel.: +44(0)161-275-5182. Received: 18 December 2010; in revised form: 11 January 2011 / Accepted: 19 January 2011 / Published: 25 February 2011 Abstract: Embryonic stem (ES) and induced-pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be grown indefinitely under appropriate conditions whilst retaining the ability to differentiate to cells representative of the three primary germ layers. Such cells have the potential to revolutionize medicine by offering treatment options for a wide range of diseases and disorders as well as providing a model system for elucidating mechanisms involved in development and disease. In recent years, evidence for the function of E-cadherin in regulating pluripotent and self-renewal signaling pathways in ES and iPS cells has emerged. In this review, we discuss the function of E-cadherin and its interacting partners in the context of development and disease. We then describe relevant literature highlighting the function