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Figure 5 | Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Figure 5

From: The less-often-traveled surface of stem cells: caveolin-1 and caveolae in stem cells, tissue repair and regeneration

Figure 5

Caveolin-1 regulation of progenitor cell homing and mobilization. (A) Renal stem cell homing. Caveolin-1 may positively contribute to renal stem cell adhesion to ischemic tissue [109], possibly by promoting CXCR4 clustering in caveolae and allowing its interaction with stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in the ischemic tissue. (B) Bone marrow stem cell mobilization. In the bone marrow, caveolar internalization of CXCR4 may be important for progenitor cell de-adhesion to marrow stromal cells. Upon tissue ischemia, endothelial progenitor cells from the bone marrow may be recruited to the ischemic site to form new vasculature to restore blood flow. Caveolin-1 null mice (Cav−/−), unlike wild-type (WT) mice, fail to restore perfusion when ischemia is induced in their hind limbs. However, this phenotype can be rescued by direct intravenous infusion of Cav−/− or WT progenitor cells in the affected area, or by transplanting WT bone marrow into irradiated Cav−/− mice [111]. These results suggest that caveolin-1 is involved in the process of progenitor cell mobilization from the bone marrow in response to soluble SDF-1, which normally triggers progenitor cell mobilization. HSPC, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell.

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