When one cell is enough
-
Correspondence: Rhodri Ceredig rod.ceredig@nuigalway.ie
Regenerative Medicine Institute, National University of Ireland, University Road, Galway, Ireland
Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2012, 3:1 doi:10.1186/scrt92
Published: 13 January 2012Abstract
For many years, the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) has been well characterized in mice as a cell that can singly reconstitute the whole hematopoietic system of primary recipient animals as well as that of secondary hosts. That clinical bone marrow transplantation is a successful treatment strategy is indirect evidence that such a cell exists in humans. To date, similar criteria have not been applied to human HSCs. However, using a humanized mouse model of xenotransplantation, a recent paper shows that single human cells can fully reconstitute the lymphomyeloid system of primary recipient animals and, in some cases, that of secondary hosts.