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Which blood and immune cells can arise from hematopoietic stem cells?
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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.
Hematopoietic stem cells are the primitive cells from which all blood and immune cells originate through a process of differentiation. These stem cells give rise to four major blood cell lineages:1
- Red blood cells (erythrocytes): Responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body.1
- Phagocytic cells: These include granulocytes—such as neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils—and monocytes. These cells ingest and break down foreign particles and microorganisms.12
- Lymphocytes: These cells are essential components of the immune system and are involved in the body's defense against infection.1
- Megakaryocytes: These large bone marrow cells produce platelets, which are critical for blood clotting.1
Through complex signaling involving colony-stimulating factors, these stem cells divide and differentiate into specialized precursor cells to meet the body's ongoing physiological demands.1