First developed as an accessible abridgement of the successful "Handbook of Stem Cells," "Essentials of Stem Cell Biology" serves the needs of the evolving population of scientists, researchers, practitioners, and students embracing the latest advances in stem cells. Representing the combined effort of 7 editors and more than 200 scholars and scientists whose pioneering work has defined our understanding of stem cells, this book combines the prerequisites for a general understanding of adult and embryonic stem cells with a presentation by the world's experts of the latest research information about specific organ systems. From basic biology/mechanisms, early development, ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm, and methods to theapplication of stem cells to specific human diseases, regulation and ethics, and patient perspectives, no topic in the field of stem cells is left uncovered.
Contributions by Nobel Laureates and leading international investigatorsIncludes two entirely new chapters devoted exclusively to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells written by the scientists who made the breakthroughEdited by a world-renowned author and researcher to present a complete story of stem cells in research, in application, and as the subject of political debatePresented in full color with a glossary, highlighted terms, and bibliographic entries replacing references"

Vertebrate Skeletal Development, Volume 133, the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, presents interesting chapters on a variety of topics, with this edition focusing on Craniofacial skeletal development, Regulatory mechanism of jawbone and tooth development, Development of the axial skeleton and intervertebral discs, Stem and progenitor cells in skeletal development, Origin, functioning and morphogenetic activity of limb synovial joint, ECM signaling in cartilage development and endochondral ossification, Sox genes in skeletal development, Wnt-Signaling in Skeletal Development, Gas signaling in skeletal development and diseases, FGF signaling in skeletal development, Bone morphogenetic growth factors in bone development, and more.

The lymphatic system develops and functions in parallel with the blood circulatory system (termed the "hemovasculature") and accomplishes transport of interstitial fluids, dietary lipids, and reverse transport of cholesterol, immune cells, and antigens-providing a critical homeostatic fluid balance and transmission of immune cells and mediators back to the cardiovascular system. Although the daily flow of lymph (normally 1-2 L/day under unstressed conditions) is far lower than that of daily blood flow (which is 7,500 L/day), without the adequate functioning of the lymphatics, virtually all organs and tissues would acutely suffer many different physical and inflammatory stresses ranging from edema to organ system failure. Although blood and lymphatic vessels often form in anatomic parallels to one another, our knowledge of the workings of the lymphatic system, the fine structure of lymphatic networks, how they function in different organs, and how they are regulated physiologically and immunologically are far from parallel; our knowledge of the lymphatic system still remains at only a tiny fraction of what is understood about the cardiovascular system. Although both the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems are important transport systems, what they transport and how they transport and propel these very different cargoes could not be more dissimilar. This book provides an overview of the history of the discovery (and re-discovery) of the components of the lymphatic system, lymphatic anatomy, physiological functions of lymphatics, molecular features of the lymphatic system, and clinical perspectives involving lymphatics which may be of interest to scientists, clinicians, patients, and the lay public. We provide a current understanding of some of the more important structural similarities and differences between lymphatics and the blood vascular system, their coordinated control by angiogenic and hemangiogenic growth factors and other modulators, the fate and lineage determinants which control lymphatic development, and the roles that lymphatics may play in several different diseases.

Plant Development and Evolution, the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on the Evolution of the plant body plan, Lateral root development and its role in evolutionary adaptation, the Development of the vascular system, the Development of the shoot apical meristem and phyllotaxis, the Evolution of leaf diversity, the Evolution of regulatory networks in land plants, The role of programed cell death in plant development, the Development and evolution of inflorescence architecture, the Molecular regulation of flower development, the Pre-meiotic another development, and much more.

Atomic Force Microscopy for Nanoscale Biophysics: From Single Molecules to Living Cells summarizes the applications of atomic force microscopy for the investigation of biomolecules and cells. The book discusses the methodology of AFM-based biomedical detection, diverse biological systems, and the combination of AFM with other complementary techniques. These state-of-the-art chapters empower researchers to address biological issues through the application of atomic force microscopy. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a unique, multifunctional tool for investigating the structures and properties of living biological systems under aqueous conditions with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution.

Microfluidics in Cell Biology Part C, Volume 148, a new release in the Methods in Cell Biology series, continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. Unique to this updated volume are three sections on microfluidics in various multi-cellular models, including microfluidics in cell monolayers/spheroids, microfluidics in organ on chips, and microfluidics in model organisms. Specific chapters discuss collective migration in microtubes, leukocyte adhesion dynamics on endothelial monolayers under flow, constrained spheroid for perfusion culture, cells in droplet arrays, heart on chips, kidney on chips, liver on chips, and more.

Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis, Part B, Volume 44 in The Enzymes series highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on Mesoporous silica nanoparticle synthesis, Periodic mesoporous organosilica, Nanovalves and other nanomachine-equipped nanoparticles and controlled release, Two-photon light control and photodynamic therapy, Biodegradable PMO nanoparticles, Cationic mesoporous silica and protein delivery, Drug loading, stimuli-responsive delivery and cancer treatment, Animal models and cancer therapy, siRNA delivery and TWIST shutdown for ovarian cancer treatment, and TBC (mesoporous silica nanoparticles and cancer therapy or biodistribution of MSN).

Mitochondria and Longevity, Volume 340, the latest release in the International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology series reviews and details current advances in cell and molecular biology. The IRCMB series has a worldwide readership, maintaining a high standard by publishing invited articles on important and timely topics with this release focusing on topics such as Mitochondria metabolism and aging, Mitohormesis, Mitochondrial dynamics in the aging stem cell compartment, Mitochondrial proteostasis and aging, Mitochondrial DNA mutations and aging, Mitochondrial sirtuins, NAD+, NADH and aging, Mitophagy and aging, Mitochondria, calcium transport and aging.

Advances in Stem Cells and Their Niches addresses stem cells during development, homeostasis, and disease/injury of the respective organs, presenting new developments in the field, including new data on disease and clinical applications. Video content illustrates such areas as protocols, transplantation techniques, and work with mice.

Cell Fate in Mammalian Development, Volume 128, the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, provides reviews on cell fate in mammalian development. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors, with this release including sections on the Specification of extra-embryonic lineages during mouse pre-implantation development, Cell polarity and fate specification, The circuitry that drives trophectoderm identity, Breaking symmetry and the dynamics of transcription factors directing cell fate specification, Mechanics and cell fate, How physical properties of cells change in development and their effect on cell fate decisions, and more.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is a ubiquitous internalization process in eukaryotic cells. It consists of the formation of an approximately 50-nm diameter vesicle out of a flat membrane. Genetics, biochemistry, and microscopy experiments performed in the last four decades have been instrumental to discover and characterize major endocytic proteins in yeast and mammals. However, due to the highly dynamic nature of the endocytic assembly and its small size, many questions remain unresolved: how are endocytic proteins organized spatially and dynamically? How are forces produced and how are their directions controlled? How do the biochemical activities of endocytic proteins and the membrane shape and mechanics regulate each other? These questions are virtually impossible to visualize or measure directly with conventional approaches but thanks to new quantitative biology methods, it is now possible to infer the mechanisms of endocytosis in exquisite detail. This book introduces quantitative microscopy and mathematical modeling approaches that have been used to count the copy number of endocytic proteins, infer their localization with nanometer precision, and infer molecular and physical mechanisms that are involved in the robust formation of endocytic vesicles.

Plasma Membrane Shaping summarizes current knowledge on how cells shape their membrane. Organized in four sections, the book opens with a broad overview of the plasma membrane, its composition, usual shapes and substructures, Actin/WASP/arp2/3 structures, BAR domains, and Ankyrin repeat domains, dynamin, and phospholipid signaling. Other sections cover the shaping of the plasma membrane for transport processes, discussions on exosomes, microvesicles, and endosomes, clathrin-coated pits, caveolae, and other endocytic pits, membrane deformation for cell movement, and some of the most current dry and wet lab research techniques to investigate cellular membrane shaping. This is an ideal resource for new researchers coming into this area as well as for graduate students. The methods section will be of interest to both microscopists and computer scientists dedicated to the visualization, data collection, and analysis of plasma membrane shaping experiments.

Inflammasome Biology: Fundamentals, Role in Disease States, and Therapeutic Opportunities is a complete reference on the role of inflammasomes in health and disease. Sections cover the different types of inflammasomes, including cellular signaling, structural and evolutive aspects, overview the role of inflammasomes in key diseases, microbial infections and human body systems conditions, cover the interplay between Inflammasomes and cell death processes, and discuss current therapeutic opportunities driven by inflammasome research, including targeting, blocking and inhibiting the development of inflammasomes through both synthetic and natural compounds. This book is the perfect reference for cell biologists, immunologists and research clinicians to understand the foundations of inflammasomes and explore the therapeutic opportunities they present. Pharma researchers may also find this reference invaluable in devising new approaches to developing anti-inflammatory drugs.

Stress and Inflammation in Disorders, Volume 108, the newest volume in this ongoing series, brings forth new information on protocols and analysis of proteins. This volume covers the latest on Oxidative Stress: Love and Hate History in the Central Nervous System, Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease: The Preventive and Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenolic Nutraceuticals, Inflammation in Epileptic Encephalopathies, A Computational Approach to Identify the Biophysical and Structural Aspect of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Mutations (A222V, E429A and R594Q) Leading to Schizophrenia, and Analyzing the Effect of V66M Mutation in BDNF in Causing MOOD Disorders- A Computational Approach. Each release in the Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology series is an essential resource for protein chemists, with each thematically organized volume guest edited by leading experts in a broad range of protein-related topics.

Protein Kinases in Development and Disease discusses and reviews important, but often neglected, kinases. A good representation of current model organisms from plants and C. elegans to mice are used as the basis to illustrate how we can use our understanding of normal development to learn about disease.