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C. elegans Models to Study Stem Cells

Understanding the mechanisms involved in establishing the fate of a cell has been the driving force in research studies involving stem cells. Cellular differentiation, which results in a mature cell at its appropriate location and performing its correct function, entails an ensemble of molecular processes that have been extensively studied in various types of organisms. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is considered as a strong model for studying stem cells based on its inherent features that are analogous to that of adult stem cells from various mammalian species. The proliferation of the germ cell lineage is regulated by interactions with specific cells such as those at the distal tip cell.

The germ line of C. elegans has been described as plastic, wherein it responds to variations in external and cellular conditions. Because various factors contribute to the self-renewal and maintenance of stem cells, it is therefore essential to investigate different kinds of stem cells to fully characterize all the mechanisms involved in these processes. C. elegans also presents distinct features that do not occur in other stem cell model organisms, thus providing significant contributions to the study of stem cell biology.

General Features of C. elegans as a Stem Cell Model

The general organization of the gonad of C. elegans is comparable to that of other species. Similar to Drosophila, the C. elegans gonad consists of a tube; however, C. elegans also has the unique capacity of developing into either a hermaphrodite or a male organism. In hermaphroditic nematodes, the distal tip cells are located at each end of the tube, whereas in the male nematodes, the distal tip cells are present in only one end of the tube. The distal end consists of highly proliferative germ cells, whereas the opposite end of the tube, called the proximal end, is populated by gametes.

The region between the distal and the proximal ends of the tube, also called the transition zone, is occupied by germ cells that are at various stages of differentiation. The entire transition zone is approximately 20 cell diameters in length. The organizational axis of germ cells in the C. elegans gonad is analogous to the seminiferous tubules of the mammalian testes, wherein germ cells located at the basement membrane are undifferentiated and those adjacent to the lumen are fully differentiated. Similar to other organisms, the germ cells of C. elegans interact with neighboring somatic cells, which influence their behavior. The distal tip cell of this nematode serves as a niche that fosters germ cell proliferation. The niche also secretes signaling molecules that enter the signal transduction pathways of germ cells. Niches have also been identified in various mammalian tissues of the integumentary, hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, neural, and reproductive systems. Research investigations using C. elegans thus allow analysts to better understand the behavior of cells during self-renewal and maintenance.

Anatomical drawing of a male C. elegans nematode with focus on the reproductive system. This free-living (not parasitic), colorless and transparent roundworm is approximately 1 mm in length, and lacks a respiratory and a circulatory system. (Wikimedia

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