Stem cell differentiation

• What are the two main abilities of stem cells?

  • Self-renewal: Make copies indefinitely
  • Differentiation: Change into various cell types
• What are the types of stem cells and their differentiation abilities?

  1. Totipotent: Any cell type, including placental cells (e.g., Zygote)
  2. Pluripotent: Any cell type (e.g., Embryonic stem cells)
  3. Multipotent: Specific cell types within a lineage (e.g., Hematopoietic stem cells)
• What are stem cells?

  Special cells with self-renewal and differentiation
• If a stem cell can only differentiate into a few specific cell types, what type of stem cell is it?

  Multipotent stem cell
• What are the different cell types that multipotent stem cells can differentiate into?

  • Lung
  • Pancreas
  • Heart Muscle
  • Red blood cells
  • Skin
  • Neuron
• What are the two main progenitor cells that branch off from the multipotential hematopoietic stem cell?

  Common myeloid progenitor and common lymphoid progenitor
• What is cell differentiation?

  Process of stem cells becoming specialized cells
• What is the resolution limit of a light microscope?

  0.2 µm
• What are the distinct lineages in blood cell formation?

  Myeloid and lymphoid lineages
• How do induced pluripotent stem cells differ from human embryonic stem cells?

  Induced pluripotent stem cells are derived from adult cells, while embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos
• What is the source of totipotent stem cells?

  Fertilized egg
• What is the process by which stem cells undergo specialization?

  Differentiation
• What do signaling pathways control in stem cells?

  Stem cell fate
• How many main types of stem cells are there based on differentiation potential?

  Three main types
• What is the source of pluripotent stem cells?

  Inner cell mass
• What type of stem cell is limited to specific cell types?

  Multipotent
• What is hematopoiesis?

  Blood cell formation
• What are the different types of cells that branch off from the common myeloid progenitor?

  • Erythrocyte
  • Mast cell
  • Myeloblast
  • Megakaryocyte
  • Thrombocytes
  • Basophil
  • Neutrophil
  • Eosinophil
  • Monocyte
• What is the source of multipotent stem cells?

  Adult tissues
• What does the hierarchy of stem cells demonstrate?

  • Stem cells become more specialized over time
  • They branch into three primary embryonic layers:
  • Endoderm
  • Mesoderm
  • Ectoderm
  • Eventually form specific tissues
• What is the name of the multipotential hematopoietic stem cell shown in the image?

  Hemocytoblast
• What are the different types of cells that branch off from the common lymphoid progenitor?

  • Natural killer cell (Large granular lymphocyte)
  • T lymphocyte
  • B lymphocyte
  • Plasma cell
• What do multipotential stem cells transform into during hematopoiesis?

  Progenitor cells
• What does the acronym APEx stand for?

  Achieve Perfection, Explore the Unknown
• How do hematopoietic stem cells differentiate?

  • They differentiate into myeloid or lymphoid progenitors
  • Progenitors develop into specialized blood cells
  • Examples of specialized blood cells include:
  • Red blood cells
  • White blood cells
  • Platelets
• What type of cells do multipotential stem cells develop into?

  More specialized cell types
• What is the self-renewal ability of stem cells?

  They can make copies of themselves indefinitely
• What does differentiation mean in the context of stem cells?

  They can change into different types of cells
• What is the name of the key transcription factors involved in regulating pluripotency and self-renewal?

  Oct4, Sox2, Nanog
• How do the Smad2/3 and Smad1/5/8 signaling pathways differ in their roles?

  Smad2/3 regulates gene expression, while Smad1/5/8 regulates differentiation
• How do the signaling pathways and molecules shown interact to regulate gene expression and differentiation?

  • Akt, Erk1/2, and β-catenin regulate gene expression
  • Smad2/3 and Smad1/5/8 regulate differentiation
  • These pathways interact to control pluripotency and self-renewal
• What are the key processes shown in the image related to gene expression and differentiation?

  • Gene expression
  • Pluripotency and self-renewal
  • Differentiation
• Which signaling molecules are involved in regulating pluripotency and self-renewal?

  Akt, Erk1/2, β-catenin
• What are morphogens?

  Signaling molecules that trigger cellular changes
• What are the key signaling pathways shown in the image?

  Akt, Erk1/2, β-catenin, Smad2/3, Smad1/5/8
• What are the key signaling pathways and molecules involved in regulating pluripotency and self-renewal?

  • Akt
  • Erk1/2
  • β-catenin
  • Smad2/3
  • Smad1/5/8
• What are the three main processes that can occur when stem cells differentiate?

  • Differentiation
  • Uncontrolled differentiation
  • Controlled differentiation
• What do the main pathways activate in stem cells?

  Specific transcription factors
• How do signaling pathways transmit signals in stem cells?

  From outside the cell to the nucleus
• If you wanted to observe the surface of a cell in 3D, which type of microscope would you use?

  Scanning electron microscope (SEM)