Inflammation TWEAKs Stem Cell Expansion

Watertown, MA

Girgenrath M et al published in today's online version of EMBO a paper entitled TWEAK, via its receptor Fn14, is a novel regulator of mesenchymal progenitor cells and skeletal muscle regeneration which demonstrates the ability of inflammatory stimuli to induce mesenchymal stem cell proliferation.

The authors reported that the cytokine known as TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is expressed during periods of inflammation and serves as a distinct expansion signal for muscle and mesenchymal stem cells through activation of NF-kappa B.

This study is not the first time TWEAK has been implicated in regenerative activities. In the Sept 2005 issue of J Clin Invest, Biogen Idec Researchers reported that TWEAK is capable of stimulating proliferation of hepatic oval cells.

It is important to understand which components of inflammatory signalling are beneficial from the sense of stimulating endogenous stem cell proliferation, and which signals are detrimental in the sense of stimulating scar tissue. For example, TNF alpha is associated with inflammation and causes scar tissue, but TWEAK, which in some ways is related, seems to specifically activate stem cells.

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