Stem cells are key pieces for organisms. Thanks to them, there is an embryonic development to produce complete organisms from two initial cells. It is also because of them that the body can repair itself. In this ecology article, we will enter the stem cell types that exist and what do they do within organisms.
There are two types of classifications for stem cells: according to their origin and according to their potential. First we will review the one that corresponds to its origin.
Embryonic stem cells
They are found in the cell mass of a few days of age, specifically in the blastocyst stage. These stem cells are in charge of Generate all types of tissues that make up the organism’s organs. Are the stem cells that have the greatest potential because From them you can form all types of cells to form a functional and complete organism.
Adult stem cells
They are found in fabrics of adult organisms and attend during the fabric repair. They are organ-specific and can only produce cells of the tissue type in which they are. There is a wide variety of adult stem cells, as well as there are tissues. For example, There are in:
- Muscles
- Heart
- Liver
- Fur
- Bone marrow
- Neural tube
- Fat
They receive the same name as the fabric in which they are. For example, there are pancreatic stem cells, cardiac stem cells and so on.
Its differentiation capacity is more limited than in the case of embryonic stem cells, because cannot generate individuals complete. In spite of this, its function remains extremely important for the existence of organisms.
The second type of classification can within the stem cells refers to its differentiation potential. Here are each one.
TOTIPOTENTIAL
Are of embryonic type and have the ability to train the embryoto the trophoblast of the placenta that is the layer of cells that attends during the nutrition of the embryo, and to the vitelino sack that fulfills the excretory, respiratory and nutritious functions of the embryo.
In other words, these cells are capable of train an adult organism completely. Only the zygote, which is the union of the ovule with the sperm, and the daughter cells of the first two divisions are totipotential type. They are stem cells with the more varied differentiation range. We can imagine this classification of stem cells as a pyramid and this is the one that is up to its great capacity for differentiation.
Do not hesitate to take a look at this other post of Ecology Verde on cell biology: what is and its importance.
Pluripotential
It is also embryonic and are result of the differentiation of totipotential stem cells. After four days of development, totipotential cells differ from pluripotential in the blastocyst, which is the second stage during the development of the embryo. They also differ in the internal cell mass of the embryo.
They can differentiate themselves in three germ layers of the embryowhich are also called cell lineages:
- Endoderm
- Mesoderm
- Ectoderm
These cells have less capacity to differentiate compared to totipotentials and cannot generate complete organisms.
Multipotential
It can be embryonic or adults and are cells with a reduced capacity to form different cells. As we can see, as stem cells differ more, they lose the ability to generate more cell ranges.
These multipotential cells are limited to Cellular tissue location. Those found in muscle can only produce muscle cells, those of the neural tube can only produce astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes, and thus continuously.
On the other hand, they can only differentiate more specific cells and When they are from the same embryonic layer. There are three types of layers, those already mentioned above, and from each of them different tissues arise. From the ectoderm the nervous system and the skin are derived, from the mesoderm the muscles, gonads, kidneys and bone system, the digestive system, the liver, the endocrine glands and the lungs are derived from the endoderm.
The best known example of multipotential cells They are hematopoietic ones. Some of the characteristics of this multipotential cell are:
- They meet inside the bone marrow and generate the multiple blood cells that exist.
- They are built From a stem cell: During a long process of several precursors until the final result with particular activities to be completed. This process is known as hematopoiesis.
- Some of these cells are basophils, eosinophils, B and T lymphocytes, macrophages and erythrocytes.
It is important to mention that the study of all types of stem cells has led to a great progress in the medical fieldwhere your knowledge has a great application for therapies and treatment of multiple diseases.
Unipotential
They are stem cells more specialized and can only produce cells of a type. Although they cannot produce more than a single cell type, yes they can Author. Example of this are:
- Skin stem cells: which are found in the basal membrane of the interfolicular epidermis and from which only keratinized scales occur.
- Spermatogonial stem cells: which are only able to produce sperm.
If you are interested in the subject, maybe this other ecology article can be attracted to the types of cells that exist.
If you want to read more articles similar to Stem cell typeswe recommend that you enter our biology category.
- Mata-Miranda, M., Vázquez-Peso, GJ, & Sánchez-Monroy, V. (2013). Generalities and applications of stem cells. Perinatology and human reproduction, 27 (3), 194-199.
