Abstract Stem Cells in the Genomic Era

^*Author for Correspondence.
Center for Gene Analysis and Technology,
School of Biosciences and Biotechnology,
Faculty of Science and Technology 43600
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor.
Tel: 603-89213245
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Key words: stem cells, βc subunit, α subunit, cytoplasmic domain, cellular signals

Abstract.
Stem cells that have totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent abilities can be divided into two main categories: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells originate from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage during embryonic development whereas adult stem cells are derived from bone marrow. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into mature cells or transdifferentiate into other tissues partly due to cellular signals triggered by the growth factors such as cytokines. Cytokines produce cellular signals through the cytoplasmic domain of their cognate receptor. Cytokine receptors have been categorised into several superfamilies followed by subfamilies partly due to structural similarities (extracellular and cytoplasmic domains) and combination of subunits. The ability of IL-3 to trigger differentiation not only to haemopoietic stem cells but also to liver stem cells might be a potential factor for transdifferentiation. IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-5 receptors are members of a common β subfamily because they share the same β subunit known as β common (βc). This review focuses on the b subfamily and in particular on their potential signalling pathways, i.e. proliferation, differentiation and survival that triggers at the cytoplasmic domain of both subunits (α subunits and βc) on the stem cells