title: Identification of very small embryonic/epiblast-like stem cells (VSELs) circulating in peripheral blood during organ/tissue injuries.
abstract: We have identified in adult tissues a population of pluripotent very small embryonic/epiblast-like stem cells (VSELs) that we hypothesize are deposited at onset of gastrulation in developing tissues and play an important role as backup population of tissue-specific/committed stem cells. We envision that during steady-state conditions these cells may be involved in tissue rejuvenation and in processes of regeneration/repair after organ injuries. VSELs similarly as epiblast-derived migrating primordial germ cells change the epigenetic signature of some of the imprinted genes and therefore remain quiescent in adult tissues. These epigenetic changes in methylation status of imprinted genes prevent them also from teratoma formation. Mounting evidence indicates that VSELs are mobilized into peripheral blood during tissue/organ injuries and enumeration of these cells may be of prognostic value (e.g., in stroke or heart infarct). In this chapter, we will present FACS-based strategies to detect and enumerate these cells in human peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Department of Physiology, Stem Cell Biology Institute, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors: Mariusz Z
authors: MZ
authors: Ratajczak
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Liu
authors: Wojciech
authors: W
authors: Marlicz
authors: Wojciech
authors: W
authors: Blogowski
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Starzynska
authors: Wojciech
authors: W
authors: Wojakowski
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Zuba-Surma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D048429:Cell Size; D019175:DNA Methylation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D057890:Epigenomics; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005855:Germ Layers / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes