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Stem cells

Fusion brings down barriers

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It remains uncertain how tissue-specific stem cells could generate the mature cell types of another tissue. In one instance, where bone-marrow-derived stem cells repair damaged liver in mice, cell fusion is the answer.

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Figure 1: Possible mechanisms by which transplanted blood cells could transform into liver cells.
Figure 2: Formation and reduction of hybrids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JQ, UK

    Alexander Medvinsky & Austin Smith

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  1. Alexander Medvinsky
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  2. Austin Smith
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Correspondence to Alexander Medvinsky or Austin Smith.

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Medvinsky, A., Smith, A. Fusion brings down barriers. Nature 422, 823–825 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/422823a

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