{
  "abstract": "Stem cells represent a pivotal resource in clinical applications. Accumulating evidence indicates that their functional properties are closely associated with their tissue origin, particularly embryonic germ layer specification, which may govern the developmental heterogeneity and microenvironmental niche preferences of stem cells. This review provides a systematic comparison of stem cells originating from the surface ectoderm, neural crest ectoderm, and mesoderm, highlighting their distinct molecular signatures, functional properties, and therapeutic utility. These stem cells exhibit conserved expression of core pluripotency factors while simultaneously maintaining germ layer-specific markers that dictate their functional divergence in tissue regeneration, immunomodulation, apoptosis regulation, and angiogenic modulation. Stem cells acquire germ layer-specific regulatory characteristics that intrinsically determine their biological destiny, including their biological functions, differentiation potential, and clinical applicability. This review provides a deeper understanding of germ layer-dependent properties, which will enhance the rational selection of stem cell sources for targeted therapies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, South China Center of Craniofacial Stem Cell Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiaxuan Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xinyi Huang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Junli Zhou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Qianyi Shi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yanjun Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shoucheng Chen",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0154-220X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Fang Huang",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3408-8090"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yifan He",
      "orcid": "0009-0009-4421-4020"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9j3vaceq70hsk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5",
  "fulltext_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5",
  "id": "9j3vaceq70hsk",
  "issns": [
    "2041-4889"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Review Article"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "QH573-671"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1307|Mesenchymal stem cell research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7201838938",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-026-09163-5_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13736908",
  "pmid": "42982807",
  "published": "2026-08-01",
  "publisher": "Nature Publishing Group",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9j3vaceq70hsk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-08T14:21:03Z",
      "native_id": "033b6deebd894caf9ae76b81b25c9189",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:22:15Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13736908",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1307|Mesenchymal stem cell research",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The germ layer: foundation of mesenchymal stem cell therapeutic destiny",
  "title_text": "The germ layer: foundation of mesenchymal stem cell therapeutic destiny",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T14:21:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9j3vaceq70hsk",
  "venue": "Cell Death and Disease",
  "versions": []
}