Embryonic stem cells and mammary luminal progenitors directly sense and respond to microbial products.

ABSTRACT: Stem cells are normally maintained in a quiescent state and proliferate only under certain conditions; however, little is known about the biological stimuli that initiate the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. In this study, we found that functional Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are expressed on mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and that TLR ligands stimulate ES cell proliferation and promote their hematopoietic differentiation. TLR ligands activate TLR-mediated signaling pathways, leading to the altered expression of numerous genes in ES cells. Moreover, TLR ligands efficiently stimulate the proliferation and expansion of adult stem cells and progenitors of nonhematopoietic tissues, such as mammary glands and intestine as well. We further found that mammary luminal progenitor cel

SUBMITTER: Lee SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4157827 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature