Haematopoietic stem cells differentiation

The process of erythropoiesis has been reviewed by Harrison (1976, 1977) and Orkin (1978) and more recently Metcalf (1989) has reviewed haemopoiesis from the molecular point of view. Erythroid cells together with the other blood cells are derived from a common haematopoietic stem cell. After commitment to the erythroid lineage the stem cells proliferate for a few generations when they become sensitive to the hormone erythropoietin which increases the proliferation of committed erythroid stem cells and proerythroblasts which then differentiate into mature erythroid cells containing haemoglobin. 

GATA transcription factors are representative of factors controlling cell differentiation. GATA-1 controls haematopoietic stem cells, GATA-3 is involved in the control of differentiation of thymocytes, and GATA-4 is a heart-specific transcription factor which has been implicated in the activation of genes responsible for cardiac hypertrophy. 

Stem cells are capable of both self-renewal and differentiation intoat least one mature cell type. Bone marrow stem cells include haematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs can proliferate and differentiate... 

Irons, R.D. Stillman, W.S. (1996a) The effects of benzene and other leukaemogenic agents on haematopoietic stem and progenitor cell differentiation. Eur. J. Haematol, 57 (Suppl.), 119-124... 

Cytokines have a central role in the differentiation of haematopoietic cell lines (the role of interleukins in the differentiation of lymphocytes will be discussed in more detail in Chapter 14). Haematopoiesis is the process by which terminally differentiated cells—red, white, and lymphoid blood cells—are continually formed from undifferentiated, pluripotent stem cells (Fig. 6.11). 

Lako M, Lindsay S, Lincoln J, et al. (2001). Characterisation of Wnt gene expression during the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in vitro Role of Wnt3 in enhancing haematopoietic differentiation. Mech. Dev. 103 49-59. 

---