Transdifferentiation

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The term transdifferentiation refers to the transformation of cells that belong to one of the three cotyledons into cells of another cotyledon.

As cells differentiate , the gene expression of cells changes dramatically. Many genes are quasi 'switched off' ( e.g. by DNA methylation or histone deacetylation ). However, true transdifferentiation requires that the expression of thousands of genes is upregulated again and thousands of other genes are downregulated at the same time (to turn a muscle cell into a liver cell, for example, the cell must have completely different proteins available).

Such a transdifferentiation can in principle take place directly or via the detour of a dedifferentiation followed by a differentiation in another direction. It is currently assumed that only stem cells - to a limited extent - are capable of this.

Human biology

Indications for transdifferentiation in adult humans result from the clinical picture of Barrett's esophagus , in which epithelial cells of the esophagus are transformed into mucin- secreting intestinal cells. Barrett's esophagus predisposes those affected to adenocarcinoma .

See also