Genetic and epigenetic stability of stem cells: Epigenetic modifiers modulate the fate of mesenchymal stem cells.

Stem cell research has progressed widely and has been receiving a considerable attention for its advantages and drawbacks. Despite their extensive therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine, they are debatable for their genetic and epigenetic stability. In fact lineage specific differentiation is mediated via epigenetic changes in DNA methylation, acetylation, histone modifications etc. Thus epigenetics plays an important role in stem cell biology. For therapeutic interventions stem cells need to be genetically and epigenetically stable for their maximum paracrine secretions for bringing about expected tissue repair and regeneration. In this review we have focused on the current status of genetic and epigenetic stability in stem cells and their importance in regenerative medicine. We have also touched upon the possibility of considering tissue resident mesenchymal stem cells as epigenetic modifiers. This is likely to open a new era in stem cell therapeutic intervention by reversing disease inducing epigenetic changes.