Welcome to the Nature Reviews Stem cell collection. Stem-cell research has a history of more than 20 years, and has made some outstanding contributions to our understanding of haematopoiesis and embryology. The field has been transformed by successes achieved in culturing embryonic stem cells and in manipulating their differentiation in vitro. We are gaining a better understanding of both embryonic and adult stem cells at the molecular level and of how they behave in their biological context — progress that is of great significance in cell and developmental biology.
Reviews and Perspectives
Bone-marrow haematopoietic-stem-cell niches
Anne Wilson & Andreas Trumpp
doi:10.1038/nri1779
Nature Reviews Immunology 6, 93-106 (2006)
All cells of the immune system are derived from precursor cells in the bone marrow known as haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). This Review describes recent advances in our understanding of the specialized bone-marrow niches that regulate HSC differentiation and self-renewal.
How stem cells age and why this makes us grow old
Norman E. Sharpless & Ronald A. DePinho
doi:10.1038/nrm2241
Nature Reviews Molcular Cell Biology 8, 703-713 (2007)
Evidence from rodent and human experimental studies supports the view that a decline in the regenerative function of stem cells with age contributes to mammalian ageing and, possibly, several age-associated diseases. However, a few crucial questions remain to be resolved.
Brain tumour stem cells
Angelo L. Vescovi, Rossella Galli & Brent A. Reynolds
doi:10.1038/nrc1889
Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 425-436 (2006)
Do alterations in the neural stem-cell population contribute to brain tumorigenesis? This review address how this knowledge might be used to identify new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of brain tumours, such as glioblastoma multiforme and medulloblastoma.
Embryonic stem-cell culture as a tool for developmental cell biology
Shin-Ichi Nishikawa, Lars Martin Jakt & Takumi Era
doi:10.1038/nrm2189
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 8, 502-507 (2007)
In vitro embryonic stem (ES)-cell studies present a unique set of tools to understand embryonic development; however, these studies face many challenges. What are the current and future strategies for the exploitation of ES cells in developmental cell biology?
Research Highlights
Introducing the next generation
Ekat Kritikou
doi:10.1038/nrm2211
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 8, 512 (2007)
Cancer stem cells: Underground movement
Nicola McCarthy
doi:10.1038/nrc2257
Nature Reviews Cancer 7, 812-813 (2007)
Transplantation: Making space for HSCs
Elaine Bell
doi:10.1038/nri2241
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 4-5 (2008)
