Manipulating Water Content in Stem Cells Influences Differentiation Fate

Scientists in the U.S. have shown that intentionally altering the amount of water in cells to change their volume impacts directly on cell stiffness, which can influence the direction of stem cell differentiation, a finding that could have implications for the future use of stem cells in a therapeutic context. The studies, led by Ming Guo, Ph.D., at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and David Weitz, Ph.D., at Harvard University, demonstrated that removing water from mouse mesenchy