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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Direct Induction of Hemogenic Endothelium and Blood by Overexpression of Transcription Factors in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: December 3, 2015
KDR receptor: a key marker defining hematopoietic stem cells.
B L Ziegler1, M Valtieri, G A Porada
1Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 10, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2, or KDR) acts as a positive marker for pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), distinguishing them from less potent progenitor cells.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) lack a definitive positive marker, unlike hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) identified by CD34.
- Previous research identified a small subset of CD34+ cells expressing VEGFR2 (KDR) in human postnatal hematopoietic tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a reliable positive functional marker for pluripotent HSCs.
- To differentiate HSCs from lineage-committed HPCs using cell surface markers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of CD34+ cell fractions expressing VEGFR2 (KDR) in human hematopoietic tissues.
- Limiting dilution analysis using mouse xenograft and long-term culture (LTC) assays.
- Assessment of HSC frequency in CD34+KDR+ and CD34+KDR- subsets.
Main Results:
- Pluripotent HSCs were exclusively found within the CD34+KDR+ cell fraction.
- Lineage-committed HPCs were identified in the CD34+KDR- subset.
- HSC frequency in CD34+KDR+ cells was 20% (xenograft) and 25-42% (LTC), increasing with VEGF supplementation and growth factor starvation resistance.
Conclusions:
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (KDR) serves as a positive functional marker for pluripotent HSCs.
- KDR expression effectively distinguishes HSCs from HPCs.
- This finding provides a crucial tool for isolating and studying HSCs.
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