Hematopoietic stem cells

Blood contains various types of cells that develop from hematopoietic stem cells. Diseases can give rise to a deficiency of blood cells, which can sometimes be remedied using stem cells from donors. Potential sources of these stem cells are bone marrow, blood collected from donors stimulated with substances that “mobilise” the stem cells (mobilised blood), and umbilical cord blood. Recent research findings suggest that hematopoietic and other stem cells may have the potential to develop not only into blood cells but also into other cell types, such as liver or muscle cells. In the long term, these possibilities may pave the way for new clinical applications and thereby alleviate the shortage of organ donors. A great deal of research is still needed, however, before these possibilities can be realised.