Work

Probing Embryonic Stem Cell Autocrine and Paracrine Signaling Using Microfluidics

Year: 2012

Type: review

Abstract: Although stem cell fate is traditionally manipulated by exogenously altering the cells' extracellular signaling environment, the endogenous autocrine and paracrine signals produced by the cells also contribute to their two essential processes: self-renewal and differentiation. Autocrine and/or paracrine signals are fundamental to both embryonic stem cell self-renewal and early embryonic development, but the nature and contributions of these signals are often difficult to fully define using conventional methods. Microfluidic techniques have been used to explore the effects of cell-secreted signals by controlling cell organization or by providing precise control over the spatial and temporal cellular microenvironment. Here we review how such techniques have begun to be adapted for use with embryonic stem cells, and we illustrate how many remaining questions in embryonic stem cell biology could be addressed using microfluidic technologies.

Source: Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-062011-143122

Authors: Laralynne Przybyla, Joel Voldman

Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Pluripotent Stem Cells Research

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

Awards: Microscale control of stem cell signaling using cell patterning and perfusion, G4113606792, NSF Science and Technology Center: Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems