Emerging biological functions of Twist1 in cell differentiation

Abstract

Twist1 is required for embryonic development and expresses after birth in mesenchymal stem cells derived from mesoderm, where it governs mesenchymal cell development. As a well‐known regulator of epithelial–mesenchymal transition or embryonic organogenesis, Twist1 is important in a variety of developmental systems, including mesoderm formation, neurogenesis, myogenesis, cranial neural crest cell migration, and differentiation. In this review, we first highlight the physiological significance of Twist1 in cell differentiation, including osteogenic, chondrogenic, and myogenic differentiation, and then detail its probable molecular processes and signaling pathways. On this premise, we summarize the significance of Twist1 in distinct developmental disorders and diseases to provide a reference for studies on cell differentiation/development‐related diseases.