Distribution, contribution and regulation of nestin+ cells

Nestin is an intermediate filament first reported in neuroepithelial stem cells. Nestin expression could be found in a variety of tissues throughout all systems of the body, especially during tissue development and tissue regeneration processes. This review aimed to summarize and discuss current studies on the distribution, contribution and regulation of nestin+ cells in different systems of the body, to discuss the feasibility of using nestin as a marker of multilineage stem/progenitor cells, and better understand the potential roles of nestin+ cells in tissue development, regeneration and pathological processes. This review highlights the potential of nestin as a marker of multilineage stem/progenitor cells, and as a key factor in tissue development and tissue regeneration. The article discussed the current findings, limitations, and potential clinical implications or applications of nestin+ cells. Additionally, it included the relationship of nestin+ cells to other cell populations. We propose potential future research directions to encourage further investigation in the field.