Stem cell

Progenitor cells (or stem cells) are an important element of the hematopoietic and immune systems of the human body. They play a key role in repairing damaged tissue, healing wounds and fighting infections. In this article we will look at what stem cells are, how they work and what functions they perform in the body.

Stem cells of hematopoietic tissue

Hematopoietic tissue cells (HTCs), also known as hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), are a type of stem cell. They have the ability to self-renew and differentiate in the direction of any of the hematopoietic germs. This means they can develop into different types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

In addition to the ability to produce hematopoiesis, HSCs also have immunocompetence. This means they are able to produce antibodies and other immune cells that protect the body from infections.

Functions of stem cells in the body

The main function of stem cells is the restoration of damaged tissues and organs. CQDs can differentiate into various cell types necessary for tissue regeneration. For example, they can become red blood cells to provide the body with oxygen, or white blood cells to fight infections.

In addition, stem cells play an important role in maintaining the immune system. They can turn into different types of immune cells, such as T cells (which fight viruses and bacteria) and B cells, which produce antibodies.

Hematopoietic stem cell deficiency

However, if the number of stem cells decreases, it can lead to various diseases such as anemia, leukemia and myelodysplasia. In such cases, a stem cell transplant from a healthy donor may be required.

Stem cells are cells capable of differentiation, that is, development in several directions. They never choose one direction; they always strive to “shake up” all the others. Dividing colonies of laboratory animals and animal tissue cultures regenerating in “wounded” areas, grown on plates or in Petri dishes, help to understand the structure of the differentiation mechanism. Here is one of the most widespread books, which all readers interested in this issue go through while studying at the institute. This is a book with a simple and understandable title “Developmental Biology. T.1. Development of unicellular organisms." The author of this book, Honored Researcher Aidar Isaevich Rapoport, is a student and follower of Lev Aleksandrovich Zenkevich. As I already wrote, he practically developed the basics of organ and tissue transplantation, developed a method of cell therapy and took an active part in the implementation of the Federal program for the creation of domestic stem cells, which was so successfully taken up not only by our, but also by foreign colleagues. The book was written as a result of long and numerous research by the author at the Faculty of Fundamental Medicine of Moscow State University. The following two books were published, they were both published - the second was published by the Institute for Computer Research, these are the very books that are needed to first familiarize people with the basics of such a wonderful field as developmental biology. After all, these areas are completely different, although they are interconnected...