Figure 3.

Microenvironmental Regulators of Quiescence

(A) The stem cell microenvironment comprises multiple components, including direct interactions with neighboring cells, soluble factors, and binding sites on ECM proteins. Stem cells transduce those cues via their surface receptors and integrate the signals in complex intracellular regulatory networks.

(B) In one example of microenvironmental modulation of quiescence, muscle stem cells secrete collagen V, which can act reciprocally via the calcitonin receptor (CALCR) to maintain quiescence.