H31/100624/2017

CLASSIFICATION OF STEM CELLS

Stem cells can be divided into 3 broad classes based on origin: embryonic stem cells, adult somatic cells
and induced pluripotent stem cells. Based on function these cells can be divided into Totipotent,
pluripotent and multipotent stem cells(1)

Totipotent stem cells have unlimited capability and have the ability to form extraembryonic membranes
and tissues, the embryo itself, and all postembryonic tissues and organs. An example of totipotent stem
cell is the embryo

Pluripotent stem cells are capable of giving rise to most, but not all, tissues of an organism. An example
of pluripotent stem cell is the inner cell mass in embryogenesis(2)

Multipotent stem cells are committed to give rise to cells that have a specific function. An example is
blood stem cells. They usually become committed to give rise to particular type of cells.

Embryonic stem cells are derived from inner cell mass of a blastocyst of a 5-day embryo. They are able
to differentiate in all the 3 primary germ layers and therefore can differentiate into almost any cell type
in the body. They can renew themselves indefinitely. Because of their pluripotency, embryonic stem
cells have broad applications in basic research, drug discovery and cell therapy. The first embryonic stem
cell human trial involved transplantation of oligodendrocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells
into spinal cord injured individuals(3)

Induced pluripotent stem cells are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic
stem cell like state by being forced to express genes and factors important for maintaining the defining
properties of embryonic stem cells. Yamanaka used genes that had been identified as particularly
important in embryonic stem cells and used retroviruses to transduce mouse fibroblasts with a selection
of those genes. Eventually, four key pluripotency genes essential for the production of pluripotent stem
cells were isolated; Oct-3/4, SOX2, C-Myc and KLf4(4)

Mesenchymal stem cells (bone marrow stromal cells) are multipotent stem cells that differentiate into a
variety of cell types including: osteoblasts (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), adipocytes (fat
cells). Human mesenchymal cells are of interest in clinical applications due to: capacity for homing and
engraftment, wide range differentiation potential and immunosupportive attributes. Potential
mesenchymal stem cells therapies which have been exploited so far include: graft versus host disease,
Crohn’s disease, bone defects/genetic disease, cardiac and trachea repair.

Hematopoietic stem cells are multipotent stem cells that give rise to all the blood cell types from the
myeloid and lymphoid lineage(5) The average human body requires approximately one hundred billion
new hematopoietic cells each day. The continued production of these cells depends directly on the
presence of hematopoietic stem cells, the ultimate and only source of these cells. Hematopoietic stem
cells transplants have been exploited clinically to treat patients with cancers and other disorders of
blood and immune system.

REFERENCES

1. Lewandowski J, Kurpisz M. Techniques of Human Embryonic Stem Cell and Induced Pluripotent
Stem Cell Derivation. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz). 2016;64(5):349–70.

2. Romito A, Cobellis G. Pluripotent Stem Cells: Current Understanding and Future Directions. Stem
Cells Int [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2021 Feb 8];2016. Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699068/

3. Karagiannis P, Eto K. Ten years of induced pluripotency: from basic mechanisms to therapeutic
applications. Development. 2016 Jun 15;143(12):2039–43.

4. Okita K, Yamanaka S. Induced pluripotent stem cells: opportunities and challenges. Philos Trans R
Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2011 Aug 12;366(1575):2198–207.

5. Kondo M. Lymphoid and myeloid lineage commitment in multipotent hematopoietic progenitors.

Immunol Rev. 2010 Nov;238(1):37–46.