Inhibition of stem cell differentiation, enhancement of proliferation and selective induction of apoptosis by Wnt factors

摘要

The invention relates to a method for at least in part inhibiting differentiation of stem cells in a population of mammalian cells comprising up-regulating a Wnt-signaling pathway to a differentiation-inhibiting level in the population of cells. The invention increases at the same time the number of stem cells in a population of mammalian cells compared to a reference population, and induces, at least in part, apoptosis in mesenchymal cells in a population of mammalian cells. The invention also discloses a method for selective differentiation of a stem cell, comprising controlling the level of Wnt pathway activation. The invention is used for the proliferation and subsequent differentiation of embryonic stem cells and lung stem cells, and for ex vivo lung explant cultivation.