Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
12:03
Phenotypic Analysis and Isolation of Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Lineage-committed Progenitors
Published on: July 8, 2012
Stem and progenitor cells: origins, phenotypes, lineage commitments, and transdifferentiations
I L Weissman1, D J Anderson, F Gage
1B257 Beckman Center, Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, California 94305-5323, USA. Irv@stanford.edu
Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|November 1, 2001
Summary
Highly purified multipotent stem cells are crucial for understanding tissue regeneration. Studying these purified cells, like hematopoietic stem cells, reveals their true properties in normal and diseased states.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Regenerative medicine
- Hematopoiesis
Background:
- Multipotent stem cells possess self-renewal and differentiation capabilities essential for tissue regeneration.
- Genetic markers identify stem cells, but prospective isolation is key to studying their true fate and function.
- Previous studies often lacked highly purified cell populations, potentially confounding results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the properties of various highly purified tissue-specific multipotent stem cells and oligolineage progenitors.
- To emphasize the necessity of near-homogeneity in stem and progenitor cell purification for accurate functional assessment.
- To discuss the unique long-term self-renewing capacity of hematopoietic stem cells within the hematopoietic system.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on purified stem and progenitor cells.
- Analysis of studies employing prospective isolation techniques.
- Comparative discussion of cell properties based on purity levels.
Main Results:
- The functional properties of stem and progenitor cells can only be definitively determined when these cells are purified to near homogeneity.
- In the hematopoietic system, only hematopoietic stem cells exhibit long-term self-renewal within the stem and progenitor pool.
- Lack of purification can lead to misattribution of cell functions.
Conclusions:
- Prospective isolation and near-homogeneity are critical for accurate characterization of stem cell properties and functions.
- Understanding purified stem cell behavior is fundamental for regenerative medicine and understanding tissue homeostasis.
- The unique role of hematopoietic stem cells in hematopoiesis highlights the importance of cell purity in research.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Lineage Commitment
Commitment is the process whereby stem cells:
01:10Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation
The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...
01:27Source And Potency Of Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with extensive self-renewal properties that help them maintain their population during the fetal and adult stages of life. They can specialize in all cell types of the human body. However, their differential potential may vary and can be classified into five types. Stem cells can be (1) Totipotent, (2) Pluripotent, (3) Multipotent, (4) Oligopotent, and (5) Unipotent. Each stem cell has a specific origin; the fertilized egg or zygote is a totipotent cell and...
01:28Forced Transdifferentiation
Transdifferentiation, also known as lineage reprogramming, was first discovered by Selman and Kafatos in 1974 in silkmoths. They observed that the moths’ cuticle-producing cells transformed into salt-producing cells. Many such cases of natural transdifferentiation occur in organisms. In humans, pancreatic alpha cells can become beta cells. In newts, the loss of the eye’s lens causes the pigmented epithelial cells to transdifferentiate into the lens cells.
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...
00:57Cellular Differentiation
How does a complex organism such as a human develop from a single cell? It all starts from a single fertilized egg which gives rise to a vast array of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, and epithelial cells that characterize the adult? Throughout development and adulthood, cellular differentiation leads cells to assume their final morphology and physiology. Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.
A zygote is a...
A zygote is a...
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...