This book brings together current advances in embryonic, adult, neural, hematopoietic, mesenchymal and pancreatic stem cell functions. The well presented chapters are authored by top-notch scientists in specialized areas of stem cell biology.

Stem cells appear to be fundamental cellular units associated with the origin of multicellular organisms and have evolved to function in safeguarding the cellular homeostasis in organ t- sues. The characteristics of stem cells that distinguish them from other cells have been the fascinating subjects of stem cell research. The important properties of stem cells, such as ma- tenance of quiescence, self-renewal capacity, and differentiation potential, have propelled this exciting ?eld and presently form a common theme of research in developmental biology and medicine. The derivation of pluripotent embryonic stem cells, the prospective identi?cation of multipotent adult stem cells, and, more recently, the induced pluripotent stem cells (popularly called iPS) are important milestones in the arena of stem cell biology. Complex networks of transcription factors, different signaling molecules, and the interaction of genetic and epi- netic events constantly modulate stem cell behavior to evoke programming and reprogramming processes in normal tissue homeostasis during development. In any given cellular scenario, the regulatory networks can pose considerable complexity and yet exert an orderly control of stem cell differentiation during normal development. An aberration in these ?nely tuned processes during development usually results in a spectrum of diseases such as cancers and neurological disorders. Thisunderscorestheimminentneedforamorecompleteunderstandingofmolecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory circuitries required for stem cell maintenance. Overthepast35years,adiversegroupofbenchandphysicianscientistshaveprospectively enhanced our knowledge of stem cell biology. These studies are unveiling many unrecognized or previously unknown fundamentals ofdevelopmental biology.

Incorporates all essential and relevant information in the study of stem cells Excellently presented data by leading experts in the field of stem cells Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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This book ambitiously incorporates all the latest and essential subjects on molecular regulation in embryonic, tissue, and cancer stem cells. The chapter on pathology and therapy is also fairly informative.

I highly appreciate rigorous effort by all the editors and contributors, and strongly recommend this book to experts as well as students

• Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, Kyoto University, Japan

This new volume provides a broad overview of the regulation of stem cell renewal and differentiation from a diverse panel of expert authors. The chapters cover a remarkable range of topics, from molecular biology and model systems to translational and clinical implications of stem cell research. The book will be useful to both students and experienced researchers in the field.

• Dr. Martin Pera, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. USA.

The application of stem cell 'thinking' and stem cell science to the biology of development, to tissue homeostasis, and to the generation of cancers has resulted in the explosion of new experiments and new models over the past several years. The rate of knowledge accumulation exceeds the abilities of most scientists, and especially aging scientists, to digest by reading the primary literature. Here Rajasekhar and Vemuri have brought together essays and reviews by world leaders in all areas of stem cell research--tissue and organ [adult] stem and progenitor cells, cancer stem cells, classical embryonic pluripotent stem cells, and pluripotent stem cells derived by nuclear reprogramming of adult somatic mature cell nuclei. It even covers the fast breaking field of induced pluripotent stem [iPS] cells, somatic cells that were reprogrammed by the transfection of as little as 3 genes whose gene products can re-set the genome of a mature cell to that of a pluripotent cell. The potentials of all of these areas to study and begin to understandhuman developmental biology, to produce from patients with genetic diseases pluripotent stem cells that can make all of the cell types affected in the disease, and the obvious translational attempts with tissue and organ stem cells promises to make these approaches, and the reviews in this book, the center of research in regenerative medicine. The identification of cancer stem cell in those cancers that have them [not cancers of stem cells, but the intratumoral cell subset that regenerates the entire tumor while self-renewing] will certainly help provide targets for drug therapies and novel imaging agents in the identified signal transduction pathways they use; and immunotherapy targets by the novel proteins and peptides [at least]that are created by mutations, translocations, and splicing anomalies central to the oncogenic progression in these cancer stem cells. The book is an essential addition to the libraries of scientists and institutions that do and teach stem cell research. I commend the editors and authors for an excellent and exciting book.

• Irv Weissman MD, Stanford University

Inhalt
Molecular Regulation in Stem Cells.- The Molecular Basis of Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal.- Asymmetric Behavior in Stem Cells.- Determinants of Pluripotency in Mouse and Human Embryonic Stem Cells.- Maintenance of Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by Nanog-Mediated Dedifferentiation of Committed Mesoderm Progenitors.- Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Germ Cell Development.- Genomic Stability in Stem Cells.- Genetic Manipulation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells.- Transcriptional Networks Regulating Embryonic Stem Cell Fate Decisions.- Use of Zebrafish to Dissect Gene Programs Regulating Hematopoietic Stem Cells.- HOXB4 in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Regulation.- Telomere and Telomerase for the Regulation of Stem Cells.- The Role of Mitochondria in Stem Cell Biology.- Regulation by Stem Cell Niches.- Stem Cells and Stem Cell Niches in Tissue Homeostasis: Lessons from the Expanding Stem Cell Populations of Drosophila.- Extrinsic and Intrinsic Control of Germline Stem Cell Regulation in the Drosophila Ovary.- The Niche Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells.- Environmental Signals Regulating Mesenchymal Progenitor Cell Growth and Differentiation.- Microenvironmental Regulation of Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells.- Stem Cells, Hypoxia and Hypoxia-Inducible Factors.- Epigenetic Mechanisms in Stem Cells.- Stem Cell Epigenetics.- Epigenetic Signature of Embryonal Stem Cells: A DNA Methylation Perspective.- Epigenetic Basis for Differentiation Plasticity in Stem Cells.- Role of DNA Methylation and Epigenetics in Stem Cells.- DNA Methylation and the Epigenetic Program in Stem Cells.- Polycomb Group Protein Homeostasis in Stem Cell Identity A Hypothetical Appraisal.- Signaling and Regulation in Select Stem Cell Types.- Signaling Pathways in Embryonic Stem Cells.- Regulation of Stem CellSystems by PI3K/Akt Signaling.- Endothelial Ontogeny During Embryogenesis: Role of Cytokine Signaling Pathways.- Signaling Networks in Mesenchymal Stem Cells.- Single-Cell Approaches to Dissect Cellular Signaling Networks.- Hematopoietic Stem Cells.- Renal Stem Cells and Kidney Regeneration.- The Endometrium: A Novel Source of Adult Stem/Progenitor Cells.- Epithelial Stem Cells and the Development of the Thymus, Parathyroid, and Skin.- Hepatic Stem Cells and Liver Development.- Disease Paradigms and Stem Cell Therapeutics.- The Idea and Evidence for the Tumor Stemness Switch.- The Role of the Tumor Suppressor Fhit in Cancer-Initiating Cells.- History of Cancer Stem Cells.- Immune Responses to Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells.- Leukemic Stem Cells: New Therapeutic Targets?.- Solid Tumor Stem Cells Implications for Cancer Therapy.- Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem …