Stem cells are a class of cells with self-renewal, high proliferation and multi-directional differentiation potential. According to the developmental stage, it can be divided into embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells (ASCs). Embryonic stem cells are totipotent, infinitely proliferating stem cells with the potential to form all types of cells, including embryonic stem cells, embryonic germinal stem cells; adult stem cells include neural stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, epidermal stem cells, etc. Adult stem cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into tissue-specific cells, that is, "multipotent" cells that differentiate into cells in corresponding tissues and organs. They are pluripotent stem cells existing in human tissues. According to the size of their differentiation potential, stem cells It can be divided into totipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells and multipotent stem cells.
Figure 1. The diagram of stem cell differentiation
Stem cell receptors refer to special proteins on the surface of stem cells that selectively bind or adhere to other signaling molecules. The types of receptors on the surface of different stem cells are different, so stem cell receptors can be used as markers to identify different types of stem cells and their subpopulations. Representative stem cell receptors on different types of stem cells are listed here.
Common hematopoietic stem cell surface markers include CD34, CD133, and Sca-1. CD34 has been a research hotspot since its discovery in a small number of human bone marrow cells. CD34 positive enriched cell populations derived from bone marrow and peripheral blood showed most hematopoietic activity. CD34 is considered to be a marker of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). CD133 is a 120kDa glycosylated protein containing five transmembrane domains, originally identified by the AC133 mAb, which recognizes the CD34+ subclass of human HSCs. CD133 can complement the screening of HSCs and in vitro expansion with CD34. Sca-1 is an 18kDa phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein, a member of the Ly-6 antigen family. Sca-1+HSCs can be found in adult bone marrow, fetal liver, peripheral blood and spleen of adult animals. More interesting reading related HSC markers>>
Oct-4 and SSEAs are often used as markers to identify embryonic stem cells. Oct-4 is a POU transcription factor originally identified as a DNA-binding protein that activates gene transcription through cis-elements. It is expressed in totipotent fetal stem cells (ES) and germ cells and is a major regulator of pluripotent differentiation of cell lines. SSEAs were originally used to identify three mAbs that recognize glycolipid epitopes. SSEA-1 is expressed on the surface of pre-implantation mouse embryos and is also found on the surface of teratoma stem cells, but not in differentiated derived cells. SSEA-3 and 4 are synthesized during oogenesis and are present in oocytes, zygotes and early blastomere cell membranes.
CUSABIO has listed some popular targets related stem cell receptor. Click on the corresponding target to view all the reagents related to the target.
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