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Review
. 2024 Mar 20:12:1359585.
doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1359585. eCollection 2024.

ECM and epithelial stem cells: the scaffold of destiny

Soline Estrach  1 , Charles-Maxime Vivier  1 , Chloé C Féral  1
Affiliations
Review

ECM and epithelial stem cells: the scaffold of destiny

Soline Estrach et al. Front Cell Dev Biol. .

Abstract

Adult stem cells play a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and promoting longevity. The intricate organization and presence of common markers among adult epithelial stem cells in the intestine, lung, and skin serve as hallmarks of these cells. The specific location pattern of these cells within their respective organs highlights the significance of the niche in which they reside. The extracellular matrix (ECM) not only provides physical support but also acts as a reservoir for various biochemical and biophysical signals. We will consider differences in proliferation, repair, and regenerative capacities of the three epithelia and review how environmental cues emerging from the niche regulate cell fate. These cues are transduced via mechanosignaling, regulating gene expression, and bring us to the concept of the fate scaffold. Understanding both the analogies and discrepancies in the mechanisms that govern stem cell fate in various organs can offer valuable insights for rejuvenation therapy and tissue engineering.

Keywords: ECM; adult epithelial stem cells; aging; mechanosignaling; stemness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Schematic representation of adult stem cell location in the three epithelia Gut (A), Lung (B) and Skin (C). Created with Biorender. com, accession 21 December 2023.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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