Progenitor cell

A progenitor or precursor cell is the progeny of a multipotent adult stem cell or isolated from fetal tissue. It comprises on the one hand in terms of their ability to regenerate stem cell properties, but on the other hand, set to a future functional area - however, this " definition " still reversible. Progenitor cells are therefore sometimes referred to as determinate stem cells.

More recently, progenitor cells have been demonstrated and in the heart, the muscles, the adipose tissue in the skin and in the brain in many tissues.

Since the field of research is developing extremely dynamically, the nomenclature is also still in flux; the term progenitor cell is therefore sometimes used as a synonym for stem cell, but also sometimes quite narrow for the progenitor cells of the hematopoietic system.

Hematopoietic progenitor cells

Hematopoietic progenitor cells are largely undifferentiated precursor cells of the hematopoietic system, from which various white blood cells or red blood cells can develop. They are primarily in the bone marrow before, in low concentrations but also in the vascular system.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC)

As endothelial progenitor cells circulating in the blood cells are referred to, have the ability to differentiate to endothelial cells. The characterization of these cells is currently not well defined. Mostly blood cells are referred to as EPC bearing specific cell surface proteins of progenitor cells, while an own characteristic Endothelzellproteine ​​. Is currently being investigated whether EPCs are for the treatment of heart and vascular diseases.

  • Cell type
  • Developmental Biology
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