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. 2021 Jan;27(1):45-48.
doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-01182-9. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

The distribution of cellular turnover in the human body

Ron Sender  1 , Ron Milo  2
Affiliations

The distribution of cellular turnover in the human body

Ron Sender et al. Nat Med. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

We integrated ubiquity, mass and lifespan of all major cell types to achieve a comprehensive quantitative description of cellular turnover. We found a total cellular mass turnover of 80 ± 20 grams per day, dominated by blood cells and gut epithelial cells. In terms of cell numbers, close to 90% of the (0.33 ± 0.02) × 1012 cells per day turnover was blood cells.

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