Differentiation

Definition

Differentiation is the process of gradual transformation of a stem cell into a tissue-specialized cell. The phenomenon of differentiation occurs most intensively during embryonic development. During the development of a multicellular organism, differentiation occurs repeatedly as it changes from a simple zygote to a complex arrangement of tissues and cell types. Differentiation continues in adulthood as adult stem cells divide and form fully differentiated descendant cells essential during tissue repair and during normal cell turnover. The process of differentiation takes place through the extracellular signal, which triggers the signaling cascade inside the cell, leading to the suppression of multipotency genes and activation of genes in which the proteins necessary for structural and functional specialization of the target cell are present. Depending on the direction of the cell differentiates, this process is initiated by defined genetic factors and controlled at many stages of differentiation by regulatory proteins. The differentiation process is usually irreversible, although there are exceptions to this rule.

It has been observed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to differentiate into many types of connective tissue, including: bone tissue (osteogenesis), cartilage (chondrogenesis), adipose tissue (adipogenesis), skeletal muscle tissue (myogenesis), heart muscle (cardiomiogenesis), tendons, ligaments, as well as in in vitro tests for nerve tissue cells. .