Medical Hypotheses
Volume 61, Issue 3 , Pages 401-404, September 2003

Foetal origins of adult diseases: just a matter of stem cell number?

  • S Cianfarani

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Prof. Stefano Cianfarani MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, ‘Rina Balducci’ Center of Pediatric Endocrinology, Room E-178, Tor Vergata University, via Montpellier 1, 00133-Rome, Italy. Phone: +39-06-7259-6178; Fax: +39-06-59-17-415

‘Rina Balducci’ Center of Pediatric Endocrinology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy

Received 15 July 2002; accepted 11 November 2002.

Abstract 

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is associated with insulin resistance, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Postnatal tissues contain stem cells that though quiescent, retain their capacity to self-renew and regenerate tissues to fulfil organ demands. I propose that intrauterine malnutrition reduces the number of tissue stem cells, eventually leading to an early exhaustion of organ function, especially when demands are increased. This hypothesis implies that early prevention of long-term consequences of IUGR should be aimed at inducing proliferation, differentiation and survival of stem cells or reversing the differentiation state of mature cells.

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PII: S0306-9877(03)00182-8

doi:10.1016/S0306-9877(03)00182-8

Medical Hypotheses
Volume 61, Issue 3 , Pages 401-404, September 2003

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