Adult stem cells articles from across Nature Portfolio

Satellite cells, the stem cells of skeletal muscle, are responsible for muscle development and regeneration. Although low in abundance, satellite cells can be isolated from muscle but cannot be propagated successfully in culture in numbers needed for therapeutic use. We developed a method to generate cells with satellite cell characteristics from skeletal muscle organoid cultures.

The cell of origin for high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) remains to be determined. Here, the authors characterize the different cell types and states of the mouse uterine tube and identify transitional pre-ciliated cells as a cancer-prone cell state, which could be targeted therapeutically.

Four distinct tuft cell states are identified by combining analysis of primary human intestinal resection material and organoids, and studying tuft cell development shows that they represent a damage-induced reserve intestinal stem cell pool in humans.

Takahashi et al. intravenously inject human Muse cells into model mice with Stanford type B acute aortic dissection. This effectively reduces diameter expansion rates, mortality and has a greater therapeutic effect than intravenous injection of large amounts of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Several factors contribute to the identity of adipose stem cells, including anatomic location, microvascular neighborhood and sex. Here, authors find that adipose stem cells are sexual dimorphic cells with dual roles as preadipocytes and fibroblasts.

Satellite cells, the stem cells of skeletal muscle, are responsible for muscle development and regeneration. Although low in abundance, satellite cells can be isolated from muscle but cannot be propagated successfully in culture in numbers needed for therapeutic use. We developed a method to generate cells with satellite cell characteristics from skeletal muscle organoid cultures.

In this Tools of the Trade article, Lei Yuan (from the Cai lab) highlights a new culture system that allows in vitro reconstitution of a dynamic miniature mammary gland.

Lineage transitions are a central feature of prostate development, tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. We discovered that inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate uptake results in large-scale chromatin remodelling of key lineage-specific genes, antagonizes luminal lineage identity, and alters response to antiandrogen therapy in prostate cancer.

Pioneer transcription factors bind closed chromatin regions, alter local accessibility and activate target genes. A study reveals that the SOX9 transcription factor drives cell fate switching by activating hair follicle cell enhancers, while simultaneously repressing epidermal enhancers via sequestration of epigenetic factors.

Pancreatic islet cell replacement therapy is a promising strategy for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, but the scarcity of organ donors and need for immunosuppression hamper its wide application. Huang and colleagues developed an efficient method to redirect the fate of primary human gastric stem cells, generated from stomach tissue, towards insulin-producing β-cells.