IMR Press / FBL / Volume 12 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.2741/2044

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article
Cell fusion: biological perspectives and potential for regenerative medicine
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1 Centro de Terapia Celular, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, s/n, 46014 Valencia, Spain
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2007, 12(1), 1–12; https://doi.org/10.2741/2044
Published: 1 January 2007
Abstract

Cell fusion has emerged as a powerful subject of debate in the last few years. Adult stem cell plasticity and the search for mechanisms to explain this process have led to the "rediscovery" of cell fusion. In nature, cell fusion is a normal process involved in sexual reproduction, tissue formation, and immune response. The recent observation that bone marrow derived cells fuse with several cell types introduces new and provocative questions. In this review, I shall recapitulate what is known about cell fusion and discuss its more controversial aspects. I shall highlight the most exciting open questions; its biological potential; pros and cons; and their implications on stem cell plasticity, regenerative medicine, and development.

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