Modulating Cell Fate as a Therapeutic Strategy

Publication date: Available online 14 June 2018
Source:Cell Stem Cell
Author(s): Brian Lin, Priya Srikanth, Alison C. Castle, Sagar Nigwekar, Rajeev Malhotra, Jenna L. Galloway, David B. Sykes, Jayaraj Rajagopal
In injured tissues, regeneration is often associated with cell fate plasticity, in that cells deviate from their normal lineage paths. It is becoming increasingly clear that this plasticity often creates alternative strategies to restore damaged or lost cells. Alternatively, cell fate plasticity is also part and parcel of pathologic tissue transformations that accompany disease. In this Perspective, we summarize a few illustrative examples of physiologic and aberrant cellular plasticity. Then, we speculate on how one could enhance endogenous plasticity to promote regeneration and reverse pathologic plasticity, perhaps inspiring interest in a new class of therapies targeting cell fate modulation.

Teaser

In this Perspective, Lin et al. highlight examples of plasticity during normal regeneration and in aberrant situations in a variety of tissues. The authors also discuss the merits of enhancing endogenous plasticity to promote regeneration and reversing pathologic plasticity as potential therapeutic strategies.


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