Mesenchymal stem cells generate distinct functional hybrids in vitro via cell fusion or entosis.

ABSTRACT: Homotypic and heterotypic cell-to-cell fusion are key processes during development and tissue regeneration. Nevertheless, aberrant cell fusion can contribute to tumour initiation and metastasis. Additionally, a form of cell-in-cell structure called entosis has been observed in several human tumours. Here we investigate cell-to-cell interaction between mouse mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). MSCs represent an important source of adult stem cells since they have great potential for regenerative medicine, even though they are also involved in cancer progression. We report that MSCs can either fuse forming heterokaryons, or be invaded by ESCs through entosis. While entosis-derived hybrids never share their genomes and induce degradation of the target cell, fusion-d

SUBMITTER: Sottile F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5101832 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature