Very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells in adult organs and their potential role in rejuvenation of tissues and longevity.
Recently, we purified rare CXC chemokine receptor 4 expressing (CXCR4(+)) small stem cells (SCs) from the murine bone marrow (BM) that express markers characteristic for embryonic (E)SCs, epiblast (EP)SCs, and primordial germ cells (PGCs). We named these primitive cells very small embryonic-like (VSEL) SCs (VSELs). Our data indicate that VSELs are also present in many other organs in mice and that they may differentiate into cells from all three germ layers. Similar SCs were also isolated from human cord blood (CB) and mobilized peripheral blood (mPB). We hypothesize that VSELs are deposited during gastrulation and organogenesis in developing organs/tissues of mammals as a population of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) that give rise to tissue committed monopotent SCs and that their number decreases with age. Therefore VSELs could play a pivotal role in normal rejuvenation of adult tissues as well as involvement in regeneration of damaged organs. Thus, these cells are potential SCs candidates for regenerative medicine and we envision that the regenerative potential of these cells could be harnessed to decelerate the aging processes.
Ratajczak
Mariusz Z
MZ
Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Hoenig Endowed Chair in Cancer Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. mzrata01@louisville.edu
Zuba-Surma
Ewa K
EK
Shin
Dong-Myung
DM
Ratajczak
Janina
J
Kucia
Magda
M
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D012060:Rejuvenation / Q000502:physiology*