Stem Cell Types

Flashcards of vocabulary about Stem Cells

Stem Cell

A single cell that can replicate itself or differentiate itself into many cell types.

Symmetric Cell Division

Stem cell division that results in two identical stem cells or two differentiated progeny.

Asymmetric Cell Division

Stem cell division that results in one stem cell (self-renewal) and one differentiated progeny.

Morula

An early-stage embryo consisting of cells (blastomeres) in a solid ball contained within the zona pellucida. The zygote divides a few times until the formation of the Morula (TOTIPOTENT).

Zygote

The cell formed by the fusion of a sperm and an egg cell, bringing together male and female chromosomes.

Blastocyst

A structure formed in the early development of mammals, possessing an inner cell mass (fetal tissue) surrounded by a trophoblast (placenta).

Inner Cell Mass (ICM)

Differentiates into the three germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm) that compose all tissues and organs; generates precursors of sperm and egg cells.

Totipotent

Stem cells that can form all cell types of the embryo and the extra-embryonic structures (placenta). Fertilized eggs + early blastomeres

Pluripotent

Stem cells that can form all cell types of the embryo but are unable to form the extra-embryonic structures. Embryonic stem cells.

Multipotent

Stem cells found in specialized tissues in the fetus or adult (adult stem cells or somatic stem cells). They can form many tissue cells, but not all.

Unipotent

Stem cells that can form only one other cell type.

Cell Differentiation

Process by which a cell becomes specialized in order to perform a specific function, due to epigenetic modifications (methylation in promoter regions, chemical alterations in histones) to silence and activate specific genes.

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells, Embryonic Germ (EG) Cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS).

Multipotent Stem Cells

Hematopoietic stem cells, Mesenchymal stem cells, Intestinal stem cells, Neuronal stem cells, Dental pulp stem cells.

Unipotent Stem Cells

Epidermal stem cells, Skeletal muscle stem cells.

Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells

Pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst.

Embryonic Germ (EG) Cells

Precursors of germ cells isolated from embryos and cultured in vitro.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS)

Pluripotent stem cells obtained through cellular reprogramming by incorporating transcription factors into adult cells.

Cellular Reprogramming

The process of inducing pluripotency in a differentiated cell by introducing specific transcription factors.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs)

Multipotent stem cells of mesodermal origin, located in adult bone marrow. Can be sourced from Umbilical Cord Blood

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC)

Multipotent stem cells of mesodermal origin. Can differentiate into mesodermal tissues such as muscle, tendon, adipocyte, osteocyte, and chondrocyte lineages.

Intestinal Stem Cells (ISCs)

Multipotent stem cells of endodermal origin. Can generate all kinds of differentiated cell types of the small intestine and the colon

Neuronal Stem Cells (NSCs)

Multipotent cells of ectodermal origin which are able to self-renew and proliferate without limit, to produce progeny cells which terminally differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs)

The non-stem cell progeny of NSCs; have limited proliferative ability and does not exhibit self-renewal.

Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs)

Multipotent cells isolated from the human permanent third molar pulp; Can differentiate into odontoblasts, chondrocytes, fibroblasts, etc.

Epidermal Stem Cells

Unipotent stem cells, located at the most basal layer of the dermis, termed the stratum basale responsible for repair and maintenance of the epithelial barrier

Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells

Unipotent stem cells, responsible for the post-natal growth, repair and maintenance of skeletal muscle