A few thoughts about the plasticity of stem cells

Abstract

Over the last several years much attention has focused on the differentiation abilities of stem cells. In particular, it has been suggested that traditional concepts and dogmas regarding the developmental potential of somatic tissue resident stem cells need to be revisited. A number of reports have suggested that stem cells obtained from, for instance, bone marrow or the nervous system may be able to “transdifferentiate” or “dedifferentiate” [1–5]. That is, bone marrow stem cells can be “induced” to make neural tissue [6,7], and neural stem cells may be “induced” to produce blood and other tissues [8,9]. These are just two examples of numerous similar reports that include tissues such as muscle, liver, skin, gut, and lung [10–18]. The suggested “plasticity” of somatic tissue stem cells has a potential clinical impact and may revolutionize the way we think about tissue transplantation therapies and regenerative medicine [19]. Unlike most advances in the life sciences, the possibility of stem cell plasticity has been immediately put to use by various political and citizen's group forces.