Stem cells
Haematopoietic stem cells are the common ancester to all blood cells in the body and are found in the bone marrow [1].
However, embryonic stem cells have the potential to differentiate into any cell type found in an organism.[2]
These cells that give rise to all blood cells are called pluripotent stem cells. Differentiation of these cells begins during development of the foetus and continues throughout life. The pluripotent stem cell differentiates into stem cells, sometimes referred to as colony forming units, for different lineages of blood cells, including the lymphoid (T and B cells), myeloid, erythrocytic and megakaryoblastic lineages. Along with being primarily found in the bone marrow, stem cells can also be isolated from foetal blood in umbilical cords.
Differentiation of stem cells into the functional blood cells is triggered by specific cell surface interactions with the stromal cells of the marrow and specific cytokines produced by these and other cells. Specific cytokines that promote hematopoietic cell growth and terminal differentiation are released by helper T cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, and other cells in response to infections and on activation.[3]
References
- ↑ Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkin, K., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P., (2008) Essential Cell Biology, 5th edition, New York: Garland Science
- ↑ Becker, W. M., Kleinsmith L. J., Hardin, J., Bertoni, G. P., (2009) The World of the Cell, 7th edition, San Francisco: Pearson Education
- ↑ Murray P R, Rosenthal K S, Pfaller M A et al. 2013, Medical Microbiology, Seventh Edition, Philadelphia PA, Elsevier Saunders