Identification of circulating CD31⁺CD45⁺ cell populations with the potential to differentiate into erythroid cells

Erythro-myeloid progenitors (EMP) are found in a population of cells expressing CD31 and CD45 markers (CD31⁺CD45⁺). A recent study indicated that EMPs persist until adulthood and can be a source of endothelial cells. We identified two sub-populations of EMP cells, CD31^lowCD45^low and CD31^highCD45⁺, from peripheral blood that can differentiate into cells of erythroid lineage. Our novel findings add to the current knowledge of hematopoietic lineage commitment, and our sequential, dual-step, in vitro culture model provides a platform for the study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying human hematopoiesis and erythroid differentiation.