Module 4 - Stem cells Flashcards
Endogenous stem cells
maintain human body
What is a stem cell?
A cell that is able to self renew and differentiate into mature functional cell types
Stem cell > Progenitor > Mature cell
Name 3 ways of differentiation
Asymmetric cell division
Symmetric cell division
Mixed model
Explain the asymmetric stem cell division models
A) Asymmetric localisation of cell polarity regulators initiates the asymmetric division
B) Segregation of cell fate determinants ot the cytoplasm of one daughter cell
C) Exit of the daughter cell from a stem cell niche triggers differentiation
Different functional outcomes of stem ells
Symmetric self-renewal: proliferation and maintenance of developmental potential = increase in stem cell pool, no generation of differentiated progeny
Asymmetric self-renewal: proliferation and maintenance of developmental potential = maintenance of stem cell pool, generation of differentiated progeny
Lack of self-renewal: proliferation only = depletion of stem cell pool, generation of differentiated progeny
Lack of self-renewal: No proliferation, maintenance only = maintenance of stem cell pool, no generation of differentiated progeny
Definitions of stem cell potency - Totipotent
can produce an entire organism i.e. zygote (egg) and extra-embrynonic (placenta)
Pluripotent
gives rise to cell derivatives of all 3 germ layers i.e embryonic stem (ES) cells
Multipotent
gives rise to multiple cell types e.g. haematopoietic SCs, Mesenchymal SCs
Unipotent
Gives rise to only one cell type (precursor) e.g. spermatogonial stem cells
Adult stem cells
Organ or tissue specific
- Asymmetric or mixed cell division
- multipotential and limited in vitro expression
- e.g. HSC in bone marrow, epidermal SCs, MSCs
Embryonic stem cells
- Symmetrical cell division
- pluripotent, can be cultured indefinitely
- ES derived from inner cell mass of blastocyst
- embryonic germ (EG) cells derived from primordial germ cells from 10-12 week old foetuses
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells)
- artificially created from somatic cells
Definitions of SC potency - flow
Zygote = totipotent
Blastocyst -> ES cells = pluripotent
Epiblast -> epiSC = pluripotent
Late embryo/early foetus (primordial GCs) -> EG cells = pluripotent
Adult stem cells = multipotent or unipotent
-> skin, CNS, bone marrow, other -> some stuff = iPS, pluripotent
Waddington’s ski slope model
add
Mesenchymal stem cells
multipotent
give rise to osteblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes