Progress in studies on the role of β-catenin in regulating the self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is one of the best cell types for regenerative medicine. It is derived from inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage and characterized by self-renewal and pluripotency, which are regulated by kinds of signal molecules, such as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. β-catenin is a multifunctional protein and plays a key role in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. β-catenin involves self-renewal of ESCs and promotes the differentiation of ESCs into three primary germ layers in space and time. Elucidating the mechanisms of β-catenin in regulating the self-renewal and pluripotency of ESCs will pave the way to use it in research and application.