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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
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Directed Differentiation of Primitive and Definitive Hematopoietic Progenitors from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: November 1, 2017
In vitro development of primitive and definitive erythrocytes from different precursors
1Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 3, 1996
Summary
Primitive and definitive erythrocytes arise sequentially during mouse development. Studies suggest these distinct red blood cell types originate from different precursors via separate differentiation pathways.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Hematopoiesis
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Erythrocyte production in mouse embryogenesis involves primitive (EryP) and definitive (EryD) stages.
- Hematopoiesis transitions from the yolk sac to the fetal liver during development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sequential production of EryP and EryD from mouse embryonic stem cells.
- To determine if EryP and EryD arise from common or distinct precursors.
Main Methods:
- Culturing mouse embryonic stem cells on OP9 stromal cells (lacking macrophage colony-stimulating factor).
- Analyzing the temporal production of EryP and EryD.
- Assessing growth factor requirements and precursor frequencies using limiting dilution analysis.
Main Results:
- Mouse embryonic stem cells sequentially generated EryP and EryD on OP9 cells, mirroring the in vivo developmental timeline.
- Distinct growth factor requirements were observed for EryP and EryD development.
- Limiting dilution analysis indicated different precursor frequencies for EryP and EryD.
Conclusions:
- Primitive and definitive erythrocytes likely develop from distinct precursors.
- Separate differentiation pathways are implicated in the development of EryP and EryD.
- This model system recapitulates key aspects of early hematopoiesis.
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