Cripto signalling in pluripotent and adult stem cells: the adult life of a developmental gene

Increasing evidence indicate that the signalling pathways that play central roles in directing embryonic pattern formation also function post embryonically in stem cell renewal, tissue repair and regeneration. Moreover, aberrant activation of these pathways occurs in several human cancers. Our main goal is to dissect the molecular mechanisms controlling cell fate decision in pluripotent and adult stem cells and to study the signalling pathways that restore the architecture of damaged tissues. Most of our research activity is centred on the signalling molecule Cripto, a modulator of the TGF-? superfamily signalling pathway, which has emerged as a key player in this complex scenario. Despite the well known role of Cripto in embryogenesis, its function in adult life remained elusive. Our recent findings demonstrate that Cripto is a key regulator of adult muscle stem cells (satellite cells) and skeletal muscle regeneration. By combining gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) approaches in vivo and in vitro, we have provided insights into the role of TGFß ligand-specific Cripto signalling in pluripotent and adult stem cells, raising novel implications for stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.