Stem Cell Imaging

Definition

Unspecialized and undifferentiated stem cells (SCs; synonyms multipotent cells; pluripotent cells; progenitor cells; undifferentiated cells; unipotent cells) are characterized by the ability to self-renew via mitosis (symmetric division). Through this cell division, they also give rise to commitment–driven daughter cells (asymmetric division), which undergo differentiation to a functional phenotype. Many tissues are characterized by a regenerative capacity suggesting the in situ presence of SCs, but their location is often putative and inferred because of the lack of robust biomarkers. As a consequence, imaging SCs especially in human tissues remains challenging and often inconsistent.

Characteristics

SCs are considered to be mostly quiescent but retain the ability to act as progenitors for multiple (multipotential) or particular (unipotential) functional phenotypes. They do this via the process of cellular differentiation post-asymmetric cell division, which gives rise to...