ArticlePloS one2013
Symmetric vs. asymmetric stem cell divisions: an adaptation against cancer?
Article in PloS one, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 59 papers.
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Who cites it
59 citing papers in PubMed, 136 citations in OpenAlex.
- Mathematical modeling ofProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026Article
- Asymmetric division sustains stem cell heterogeneity in the Drosophila testicular niche.Communications biology · 2026Article
- Unveiling how mitotic spindle orientation in 3D human colon organoids affects matrix displacements through a 4D study using DVC.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Asymmetric stem cell division maintains genetic heterogeneity of tissue cells.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2024Article
- Stochastic journeys of cell progenies through compartments and the role of self-renewal, symmetric and asymmetric division.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Multipotent/pluripotent stem cell populations in stromal tissues and peripheral blood: exploring diversity, potential, and therapeutic applications.Stem cell research & therapy · 2024Review
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- Hematopoietic stem cells and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the lungs.Cytometry. Part A : the journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology · 2023Review
- Stochastic model for cell population dynamics quantifies homeostasis in colonic crypts and its disruption in early tumorigenesis.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2023Article
- Macrophages and stem/progenitor cells interplay in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle: a review.Stem cell investigation · 2023Review
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- Why are cell populations maintained via multiple compartments?Journal of the Royal Society, Interface · 2022Article
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- Metastasis and MAPK Pathways.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Investigating key cell types and molecules dynamics in PyMT mice model of breast cancer through a mathematical model.PLoS computational biology · 2022Article
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- A Mathematical Model of Breast Tumor Progression Based on Immune Infiltration.Journal of personalized medicine · 2021Article
- Investigating Optimal Chemotherapy Options for Osteosarcoma Patients through a Mathematical Model.Cells · 2021Article
- Effect of the interference with DRP1 expression on the biological characteristics of glioma stem cells.Experimental and therapeutic medicine · 2021Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Traditionally, it has been held that a central characteristic of stem cells is their ability to divide asymmetrically. Recent advances in inducible genetic labeling provided ample evidence that symmetric stem cell divisions play an important role in adult mammalian homeostasis. It is well understood that the two types of cell divisions differ in terms of the stem cells' flexibility to expand when needed. On the contrary, the implications of symmetric and asymmetric divisions for mutation accumulation are still poorly understood. In this paper we study a stochastic model of a renewing tissue, and address the optimization problem of tissue architecture in the context of mutant production. Specifically, we study the process of tumor suppressor gene inactivation which usually takes place as a consequence of two "hits", and which is one of the most common patterns in carcinogenesis. We compare and contrast symmetric and asymmetric (and mixed) stem cell divisions, and focus on the rate at which double-hit mutants are generated. It turns out that symmetrically-dividing cells generate such mutants at a rate which is significantly lower than that of asymmetrically-dividing cells. This result holds whether single-hit (intermediate) mutants are disadvantageous, neutral, or advantageous. It is also independent on whether the carcinogenic double-hit mutants are produced only among the stem cells or also among more specialized cells. We argue that symmetric stem cell divisions in mammals could be an adaptation which helps delay the onset of cancers. We further investigate the question of the optimal fraction of stem cells in the tissue, and quantify the contribution of non-stem cells in mutant production. Our work provides a hypothesis to explain the observation that in mammalian cells, symmetric patterns of stem cell division seem to be very common.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.