The recent study by the John Dick group, demonstrated for the first time that a single human hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) has the ability to repopulate all blood cell types. The authors were able to figure out a new marker – CD49f, which allowed clear dissection of HSC and multipotent progenitors (MPP).
Previously, Irv Weissman’s group demonstrated that as few as 10 Lin−/CD34+/CD38−/CD90+/CD45RA− cells, derived from cord blood, possess stem cell activity in xenotransplantation assays. Unlike Weissman’s group, the authors of current study showed that HSC could be either CD90+ or CD90-. Only CD49f marker allowed high resolution dissection of pure HSC within Lin−/CD34+/CD38−/CD45RA− population. Furthermore, adding one more, functional marker – Rhodamine-123, the authors demonstrated that as few as 1 out of 4 single sorted HSC can repopulate all blood lineages long-term.
Based on results of this study, the current “marker scheme” for top hierarchy of human hematopoiesis is updated. The previous version can be viewed here.
The current scheme below:
watch short video about the discovery:
