Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2026
07:14
A Culture Method to Maintain Quiescent Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Published on: May 17, 2021
In vitro self-renewal division of hematopoietic stem cells
1Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba and Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|November 9, 2000
Summary
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) regeneration was studied in culture. Findings suggest asymmetric division, where one HSC regenerates at least one HSC, crucial for maintaining stem cell populations.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Cellular Regeneration
Background:
- Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are critical for blood cell production.
- The mechanisms governing HSC self-renewal remain incompletely understood.
- Investigating HSC regeneration in vitro is essential for understanding their maintenance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the self-renewal capacity of mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in culture.
- To evaluate the effects of specific cytokines on HSC division and regeneration.
- To determine if HSC division in vitro results in self-renewal and multilineage potential.
Main Methods:
- Serum-free single-cell culture of mouse CD34(-)KSL bone marrow cells.
- Evaluation of cytokine effects (SCF, TPO, IL-3, IL-6) on cell division.
- Competitive repopulation assays to assess HSC self-renewal and multilineage potential.
- Transplantation of regenerated cells into secondary recipients.
Main Results:
- Thrombopoietin (TPO) combined with stem cell factor (SCF) efficiently induced the first cell division of CD34(-)KSL cells.
- Multilineage repopulating cells were detected from single cells cultured with TPO and SCF.
- Despite a decrease in HSC numbers, regenerated cells showed self-renewal potential in secondary transplants.
- Analysis of paired daughter cells suggested asymmetric self-renewal division.
Conclusions:
- HSC regeneration in culture can lead to the generation of functional HSCs.
- Asymmetric self-renewal division appears to be a mechanism for HSC maintenance.
- This study provides evidence that one HSC can regenerate at least one HSC in vitro.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Hematopoiesis
The process of blood cell formation is called hematopoiesis. Hematopoiesis starts early during development, on the seventh day of embryogenesis. This phase of hematopoiesis is called the primitive wave, wherein the extraembryonic yolk sac allows the production of erythroid cells and endothelial cells from a common precursor called hemangioblast. The erythroid cells provide oxygen to support the growth of the rapidly dividing embryo. Hemangioblasts later develop into hematopoietic stem cells or...
01:19Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
The hematopoietic stem cells or HSCs are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate and give rise to all blood and immune cells. HSCs are maintained in the quiescent stage until an external stimulus initiates their differentiation. The multipotent HSCs exist as two heterogeneous populations, long-term repopulating cells (LTRC) and short-term repopulating cells (STRC). The two HSC populations have different surface markers or receptors and are classified based on quiescence and long-term...
01:01Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
All blood and immune cells are produced from the multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the process of hematopoiesis. However, they all have a limited life span. In addition, many are depleted in immune surveillance or combatting an injury or infection. This makes blood one of the most regenerative tissues. Hematopoiesis helps replenish these blood and immune cells, restoring the body's normal functioning. However, overproduction of blood and immune cells can make them cancerous or...
01:23Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells
After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...
However, failure of such a system...
01:21Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
01:34Production of Formed Elements
Hemangioblasts are multipotent stem cells originating from the mesoderm. They give rise to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which undergo hematopoiesis to produce all the formed elements of blood. This process is regulated by a complex network of hematopoietic growth factors, including transcription factors, growth factors, and cytokines. These factors stimulate the HSCs to divide and differentiate, though some HSCs remain undifferentiated to maintain a self-renewing pool.
Most HSCs commit to...
Most HSCs commit to...