The hemangioblast--between blood and vessels.
The hemangioblast is a bipotential cell that gives rise to hematopoietic and endothelial cells. Although the existence of the hemangioblast was first postulated early last century, a cell with this activity has yet to be unequivocally identified in mammals. In the last decade, gene targeting experiments in the mouse have uncovered genes which are required for development of both the hematopoietic and endothelial lineages, and this, together with increasing recognition that the two cell types share gene expression patterns, has renewed interest in the hemangioblast. The murine embryonic stem cell differentiation system has been used to demonstrate the existence of a Fft-1 positive progenitor cell, called the BL-CFC, which has the properties of the hemangioblast and this system is now being used to dissect the molecular regulation of hemangioblast development and differentiation.
Forrai
Ariel
A
The Waller and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Robb
Lorraine
L
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D014157:Transcription Factors