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Planarian Stem Cell Heterogeneity

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Stem Cells Heterogeneity - Novel Concepts

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1123))

Abstract

Planarian (Platyhelminthes, Triclads) are free-living flatworms endowed with extraordinary regenerative capabilities, i.e., the ability to rebuild any missing body parts also from small fragments. Planarian regenerative capabilities fascinated scientific community since early 1800, including high-standing scientists such as J.T. Morgan and C. M. Child. Today, it is known that planarian regeneration is due to the presence of a wide population of stem cells, the so-called neoblasts. However, the understanding of the nature of cells orchestrating planarian regeneration was a long journey, and several questions still remain unanswered. In this chapter, beginning from the definition of the classical concept of neoblast, we review progressive discoveries that have brought to the modern view of these cells as a highly heterogeneous population of stem cells including pluripotent stem cells and undifferentiated populations of committed progenies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Salvetti Alessandra & Leonardo Rossi

Authors
  1. Salvetti Alessandra
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  2. Leonardo Rossi
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Correspondence to Leonardo Rossi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Alexander Birbrair

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Alessandra, S., Rossi, L. (2019). Planarian Stem Cell Heterogeneity. In: Birbrair, A. (eds) Stem Cells Heterogeneity - Novel Concepts. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1123. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11096-3_4

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