Abstract
Stem cells are a promising cell source for regenerative medicine. Stem cell differentiation must be regulated for applications in regenerative medicine. Stem cells are surrounded by extracellular matrix (ECM) in vivo. The ECM is composed of many types of proteins and glycosaminoglycans that assemble into a complex structure. The assembly of ECM molecules influences stem cell differentiation through orchestrated intracellular signaling activated by many ECM molecules. Therefore, it is important to understand the comprehensive role of the ECM in stem cell differentiation as well as the functions of the individual ECM molecules. Decellularized ECM is a useful in vitro model for studying the comprehensive roles of ECM because it retains a native-like structure and composition. Decellularized ECM can be obtained from in vivo tissue ECM or ECM fabricated by cells cultured in vitro. It is important to select the correct decellularized ECM because each type has different properties. In this review, tissue-derived and cell-derived decellularized ECMs are compared as in vitro ECM models to examine the comprehensive roles of the ECM in stem cell differentiation. We also summarize recent studies using decellularized ECM to determine the comprehensive roles of the ECM in stem cell differentiation.
Highlights
Stem cells are a promising source of cells for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Stem cell differentiation is regulated by transcription factors that are expressed in specific tissues and organs [3,4,5]
We summarize the researches that have been conducted to understand the comprehensive roles of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in stem cell differentiation using decellularized ECM as an in vitro ECM model
Summary
Stem cells are a promising source of cells for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine applications that utilize stem cells require the regulation of stem cell differentiation [1, 2]. Researchers have studied the effects of individual ECM components on stem cell differentiation by coating single ECM proteins and observing the phenotypes of genetically mutated animals and cells. The ECM is composed of many types of proteins and glycosaminoglycans Cellular functions, such as cell proliferation and differentiation, are precisely tuned by the combination of these molecules [10, 11]. Decellularized ECM is an alternative in vitro model that can elucidate the comprehensive roles of the ECM. We summarize the researches that have been conducted to understand the comprehensive roles of the ECM in stem cell differentiation using decellularized ECM as an in vitro ECM model
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