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How do stem cells progress through stem cell, progenitor cell, and terminally differentiated stages?
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stem cell
Stem cells of neural and hematopoietic origin have tremendous potential in the development of therapies for certain diseases, such as diabetes and Parkinson disease. Neural stem cells occur in the spinal cord and in specific regions of the brain, and hematopoietic stem cells occur in the blood and bone marrow.
The progression from a stem cell to a terminally differentiated state is a highly regulated process involving sequential stages of commitment and specialization.1
The Progression Process
- Stem Cell Stage: Through asymmetric cell division, a stem cell typically produces two distinct daughter cells: one that remains in the stem cell population to maintain the pool, and one that is targeted for differentiation.1
- Progenitor Cell Stage: Also known as the transit-amplifying stage, these cells are partially differentiated. They undergo a limited number of divisions, becoming increasingly specialized with each round.1
- Terminal Differentiation: This final stage marks the end of cell division. The cells acquire their permanent, specialized properties and functions, such as those of a neuron or muscle cell.1
This development is driven by gene expression changes, often triggered by environmental signals like growth factors or interactions with neighboring cells. These signals activate or repress transcription factors that dictate the cell's path, a process further refined by epigenetic modifications.1