The role of oxygen availability in embryonic development and stem cell function

MC Simon, B Keith - Nature reviews Molecular cell biology, 2008 - nature.com
MC Simon, B Keith
Nature reviews Molecular cell biology, 2008nature.com
Low levels of oxygen (O2) occur naturally in developing embryos. Cells respond to their
hypoxic microenvironment by stimulating several hypoxia-inducible factors (and other
molecules that mediate O2 homeostasis), which then coordinate the development of the
blood, vasculature, placenta, nervous system and other organs. Furthermore, embryonic
stem and progenitor cells frequently occupy hypoxic'niches' and low O2 regulates their
differentiation. Recent work has revealed an important link between factors that are involved …
Abstract
Low levels of oxygen (O2) occur naturally in developing embryos. Cells respond to their hypoxic microenvironment by stimulating several hypoxia-inducible factors (and other molecules that mediate O2 homeostasis), which then coordinate the development of the blood, vasculature, placenta, nervous system and other organs. Furthermore, embryonic stem and progenitor cells frequently occupy hypoxic 'niches' and low O2 regulates their differentiation. Recent work has revealed an important link between factors that are involved in regulating stem and progenitor cell behaviour and hypoxia-inducible factors, which provides a molecular framework for the hypoxic control of differentiation and cell fate. These findings have important implications for the development of therapies for tissue regeneration and disease.
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