Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Their Roles in Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are regarded as one of essential cell sources for treating regenerative diseases. Among many stem cells, the feasibility of using adult-derived hematopoietic stem cells in therapeutic approaches is very diverse, and is unarguably regarded as an important cell source in stem cell biology. So far, many investigators are exploring HSCs and modified HSCs for use in clinical and basic science. In the present review, we briefly summarized HSCs and their application in pathophysiologic conditions, including non-hematopoietic tissue regeneration as well as blood disorders. HSCs and HSCs-derived progenitors are promising cell sources in regenerative medicine and their contributions can be properly applied to treat pathophysiologic conditions. Among many adult stem cells, HSCs are a powerful tool to treat patients with diseases such as hematologic malignancies and liver disease. Since HSCs can be differentiated into diverse progenitors including endothelial progenitors, they may be useful for constructing strategies for effective therapy.

Keywords: Hematologic disorder; Hematopoietic stem cells; Liver disease; Stem cell therapy.

Fig. 1

Schematic illustration showed hematopoiesis in adult BM. HSCs have self-renewal activity and differentiation capability into blood cell lineages. LT-HSCs are quiescent and sustained by arrested cell division in endosteal niche, whereas ST-HSCs are promptly differentiated into myeloid and lymphoid lineage cells in vascular niche, and then lineage cells exit into periphery.