The Bright and the Dark Sides of DNA Repair in Stem Cells

Figure 2

Complex signal pathways and cellular factors regulate GSC. GSC are controlled at multiple levels by complicated regulatory networks. Signals initiated by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), bone morphogenetic protein receptors (BMPR), Hedgehog, and Notch result in complicated intracellular events to help balance self-renewal and differentiation of GSC as well as the promotion of cell survival and proliferation. Intracellular regulators including transcriptional factors (Olig2, Myc, Oct4, etc.), epigenetic modifiers (Bmi1), and microRNAs are also highly potent of maintaining GSC populations due to their ability to regulate massive downstream targets simultaneously (from [74] with permission).