Stem Cell Epigenetics

Growing evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms play a central role in stem cell biology, vital for determining gene expression during cellular differentiation and governing mammalian development. In Stem Cell Epigenetics, leading international researchers examine how epigenetics are involved in stem cell differentiation, how a stem cell rapidly transitions into a molecularly distinct cell type, and how this process may be reversed or managed via epigenetic reprogramming. Topics discussed include chromatin in pluripotency, epigenetic regulation of reprogramming, stem cells and DNA methylation, histone modifications in stem cells and differentiation, higher-order chromatin conformation in pluripotent cells, epigenetics and disease modeling, organoids from pluripotent cells, transcriptional regulation in stem cells and differentiation, non-coding RNAs in pluripotency and early differentiation, and diseases caused by epigenetic alterations in stem cells. Additionally, the potential implementation of stem cell epigenetics in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and disease treatment is discussed in detail, helping researchers and physicians bring this exciting and fast evolving field to the clinic.

Offers an in-depth analysis of the role epigenetics play in regulating embryonic stem cell differentiation and mammalian developmentProvides genetic researchers, students, and physicians with evidence indicating epigenetic mechanisms involved in stem cell differentiation, highlighting those epigenetic modifications and misregulations that may result in disease pathogenesisExamines the potential application of stem cell epigenetics towards developing therapeutic interventions for disease and advancing regenerative medicine, providing a foundation for researchers and physicians to bring this exciting and fast evolving field to the clinicFeatures chapter contributions by leading international experts

1. Epigenetic processes and DNA repair in embryonic stem cells

2. Stem cell epigenomics

3. A change in culture; modelling human germ cell development in vitro

4. Higher order chromatin structure

5. Polycomb

6. Mitotic bookmarking by transcription factors and the preservation of pluripotency

7. Roles and regulation of endogenous retroviruses in pluripotency and early development

8. Single stem cell biology

9. Stem cell chromatin plasticity

10. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in glioblastoma

11. 3D Models of the Human Brain

12. Stem cell epigenetic proteomics