Cell-cell fusion and stem cell plasticity: Emerging paradigms in tissue regeneration

doi:10.4252/wjsc.v18.i5.118307

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World Journal of Stem Cells

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1948-0210

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World J Stem Cells. May 26, 2026; 18(5): 118307
Published online May 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i5.118307

Table 1 Key fusogens and receptors involved in physiological cell-cell fusion

Tissue/context	Fusogen	Receptor/binding partner	Key determinants/notes
Placenta (CTBs → STBs)	Syncytin-1	ASCT2	ERV-derived fusogens; fusion is gated by trophoblast differentiation and transcriptional programs (e.g., GCM1)
Placenta (CTBs → STBs)	Syncytin-2	MFSD2A
Skeletal muscle (myoblast fusion)	Myomaker (TMEM8C/Mymk)	No single defined receptor	Myomaker/Myomixer execute fusion after adhesion and actin remodeling; Myomaker is often required in both partners
Skeletal muscle (myoblast fusion)	Myomixer (Myomerger, Minion, Mymx)	No single defined receptor
Mammalian fertilization (sperm-egg)	No conclusively identified single fusogen	Validated adhesion pair: IZUMO1 (sperm) ↔ JUNO (oocyte)	IZUMO1-JUNO mediates essential adhesion; multiple sperm factors and oocyte CD9 enable fusion competence
Osteoclast fusion	No classical fusogen established	DC-STAMP, OC-STAMP	Multinucleation depends on DC-STAMP/OC-STAMP within RANKL-driven differentiation and contact-dependent remodeling

CTBs: Cytotrophoblasts; STBs: Syncytiotrophoblasts; ASCT2: Alanine serine cysteine transporter 2; MFSD2A: Major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2; ERV: Endogenous retrovirus; GCM1: Glial cells missing 1; IZUMO1: Izumo sperm-oocyte fusion 1; RANKL: Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand.

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Citation: Kim JS, Hwang IS, Kim SJ, Moon MH, Park HD, Jin BH, Kim DY, Lee MJ, Eum SY, Yoo SJ, Cha BH. Cell-cell fusion and stem cell plasticity: Emerging paradigms in tissue regeneration. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(5): 118307
URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/1948-0210/full/v18/i5/118307.htm
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4252/wjsc.v18.i5.118307

Kim JS, Hwang IS, Kim SJ, Moon MH, Park HD, Jin BH, Kim DY, Lee MJ, Eum SY, Yoo SJ, Cha BH. Cell-cell fusion and stem cell plasticity: Emerging paradigms in tissue regeneration. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(5): 118307 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i5.118307]

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