Asymmetric division of stem cells and its cancer relevance

Shanshan Chao; Huiwen Yan; Pengcheng Bu

doi:10.1186/s13619-024-00188-9

Asymmetric division of stem cells and its cancer relevance

Cell Regen. 2024 Feb 27;13(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s13619-024-00188-9.

Authors

Shanshan Chao^#^{1

2

3}, Huiwen Yan^#^{1

2

3}, Pengcheng Bu^{4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
² Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
³ College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. bupc@ibp.ac.cn.
⁵ Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. bupc@ibp.ac.cn.
⁶ College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. bupc@ibp.ac.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Asymmetric division is a fundamental process for generating cell diversity and maintaining the stem cell population. During asymmetric division, proteins, organelles, and even RNA are distributed unequally between the two daughter cells, determining their distinct cell fates. The mechanisms orchestrating this process are extremely complex. Dysregulation of asymmetric division can potentially trigger cancer progression. Cancer stem cells, in particular, undergo asymmetric division, leading to intra-tumoral heterogeneity, which contributes to treatment refractoriness. In this review, we delve into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern asymmetric division and explore its relevance to tumorigenesis.

Keywords: Asymmetric division; Cancer; Cell fate; Stem cell.

Publication types

Review