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| Figure 1: Components of the stem cell microenvironment. Microenvironmental cues such as soluble signaling protein factors (e.g. growth factors, small molecules), immobilized substrates (e.g. extracellular matrix proteins, proteoglycans), cell-cell interactions (e.g. cell adhesion molecules, cadherins, Notch ligands), and mechanical forces (e.g. substrate rigidity, flow, stretch) communicate in a complex manner to influence various signaling pathways, and ultimately affect cell fate and function. |
