Hematopoietic stem cells are pluripotent and not just “hematopoietic”

• Published in: Blood cells, molecules, & diseases Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 3 - 8
• Main Authors: Ogawa, Makio, LaRue, Amanda C., Mehrotra, Meenal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-06-2013
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell Lineage; Genetic Diseases, Inborn - therapy; Hematopoietic stem cell; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - cytology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - physiology; Humans; Pluripotent stem cell; Pluripotent Stem Cells - cytology; Pluripotent Stem Cells - physiology; Stem cell plasticity; Tissue regeneration; Pluripotent stem cell; Tissue regeneration; Hematopoietic stem cell; Stem cell plasticity
• ISSN: 1079-9796; 1096-0961
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2013.01.008

Over a decade ago, several preclinical transplantation studies suggested the striking concept of the tissue-reconstituting ability (often referred to as HSC plasticity) of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). While this heralded an exciting time of radically new therapies for disorders of many organs and tissues, the concept was soon mired in controversy and remained dormant for almost a decade. This commentary provides a concise review of evidence for HSC plasticity, including more recent findings based on single HSC transplantation in mouse and clinical transplantation studies. There is strong evidence for the concept that HSCs are pluripotent and are the source for the majority, if not all, of the cell types in our body. Also discussed are some biological and experimental issues that need to be considered in the future investigation of HSC plasticity.