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Hematopoiesis and stem cells: plasticity versus developmental heterogeneity
Stuart H Orkin1, Leonard I Zon
1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA. stuart_orkin@dfci.harvard.edu
Nature Immunology
|March 29, 2002
Summary
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are crucial for lifelong blood formation. This review clarifies HSC origins, their link to vascular development, and stem cell plasticity, distinguishing true plasticity from pre-existing cell heterogeneity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Hematopoiesis
Background:
- Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are fundamental for continuous blood production.
- Understanding HSCs provides a model for studying other organ system stem cells.
- The origin and plasticity of stem cells are key areas of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the embryonic origin of HSCs.
- To examine the relationship between blood formation (hematopoiesis) and vascular development.
- To discuss the potential plasticity of HSCs and other adult stem cells, differentiating it from cell population heterogeneity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of developmental biology and stem cell research.
- Analysis of recent experimental findings on stem cell transdifferentiation in mice.
- Conceptual framework development for interpreting stem cell plasticity.
Main Results:
- HSCs originate during embryological development.
- Hematopoiesis and vascular development are interconnected processes.
- Recent findings on tissue stem cell transdifferentiation require careful interpretation due to potential cell population heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- The origin and developmental pathways of HSCs are critical for understanding stem cell biology.
- Distinguishing between true stem cell plasticity and the presence of diverse, pre-existing cell types is essential for accurate scientific interpretation.