The concept of radiation-enhanced stem cell differentiation

Abstract

Efficient stem cell differentiation is considered to be the holy grail of regenerative medicine. Pursuing the most productive method of directed differentiation has been the subject of numerous studies, resulting in the development of many effective protocols. However, the necessity for further improvement in differentiation efficiency remains. This study contains a description of the molecular processes underlying the response of stem cells to ionizing radiation, indicating its potential application in differentiation procedures. First, the radiation-induced damage response in various types of stem cells is described. Second, the role of the p53 protein in embryonic and adult stem cells is highlighted. Last, a description of the mitochondrial involvement in stem cell development including its response to ionizing radiation is provided. In summary, despite the many threats of ionizing radiation concerning genomic instability, subjecting cells to an appropriate dosage of ionizing radiation may become a valid method of enhancing directed differentiation in certain stem cell types.