dedifferensiering
Dedifferensiering, or dedifferentiation, is the process by which specialized, mature cells revert to a less specialized, proliferative state. This cellular plasticity can enable tissue regrowth and is observed in both plants and animals. Dedifferentiation is distinct from reprogramming to pluripotency in vitro and from direct transdifferentiation into another mature cell type.
In plants, dedifferentiation is common and central to growth and wound repair. Differentiated cells may re-enter
In animals, dedifferentiation occurs during regenerative processes in some vertebrates, notably urodele amphibians and certain fish,
Mechanistically, dedifferentiation involves changes in gene expression, chromatin state, and signaling pathways such as Wnt, Notch,
Context and significance: Understanding dedifferentiation informs regenerative medicine and oncology, revealing how developmental programs can be