Placenta as a source of hematopoietic stem cells

Elaine Dzierzak, Catherine Robin

Research output: Contribution to journalLiterature reviewpeer-review

Abstract

The placenta is a large, highly vascularised hematopoietic tissue that functions during the embryonic and foetal development of eutherian mammals. Although recognised as the interface tissue important in the exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products between the foetus and mother, the placenta has increasingly become a focus of research concerning the ontogeny of the blood system. Here, we describe recent data showing the intrinsic hematopoietic potential and appearance of hematopoietic cells in the mouse and human placenta and probe the biological rationale behind its hematopoietic function. As a rest tissue that contains potent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), the human placenta could represent (in addition to umbilical cord blood cells) an accessible supplemental source of cells for therapeutic strategies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)361-7
Number of pages7
JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine
Volume16
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2010

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Placenta
  • Pregnancy

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