The germ layer: foundation of mesenchymal stem cell therapeutic destiny
- 1Hospital 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
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.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026germ,
title = {{The germ layer: foundation of mesenchymal stem cell therapeutic destiny}},
author = {Jiaxuan Wang and Xinyi Huang and Junli Zhou and Qianyi Shi and Yanjun Liu and Shoucheng Chen and Fang Huang and Yifan He},
journal = {Cell Death and Disease},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The germ layer: foundation of mesenchymal stem cell therapeutic destiny
AU - Jiaxuan Wang
AU - Xinyi Huang
AU - Junli Zhou
AU - Qianyi Shi
AU - Yanjun Liu
AU - Shoucheng Chen
AU - Fang Huang
AU - Yifan He
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - Cell Death and Disease
DO - 10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-026-09163-5
AB - 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.
SN - 2041-4889
ER -