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stem cells Flashcards

1
Q

what are stem cells ?

A

Unspecialized cells which can self-renew indefinitely and can differentiate into specialised cells

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2
Q

what are common traits of stem cells ?

A

Self-renewal
Differentiation into many other types of cells

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3
Q

what is the process of differentiation

A

The process in which relatively unspecialised cells, e.g. stem cells, acquire specialised structural and/or functional features that characterise the cells, tissues or organs of the organism

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4
Q

what type of division do stem cells undergo

A

asymmetric

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5
Q

when stem cells divide what do they produce

A

two dissimilar daughter cells

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6
Q

what is the key identifying daughter cells

A

1 is identical to stem cell ( maintains stem cell line)
2nd daughter cell : has different genetic instructions

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7
Q

what will the second daughter cell become ?

A

Will eventually become a ‘progenitor’ or ‘precursor’ cell – is committed to producing one/a few terminally differentiated cells, e.g. neurons, muscle cells.

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8
Q

define cell potency ?

A

A cell’s ability to differentiate into other cell types
The more cell types a cell can differentiate into, the greater its potency

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9
Q

list hierarchy of stem cell potency

A

totipotent
pluripotent
multipotent
unipotent

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10
Q

explain totipotent stem cells

A

can give rise to embryonic membrane & any cell type of the adult body

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11
Q

example of totipotent stem cells

A

Zygote, morula

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12
Q

explain pluripotent stem cells

A

can give rise to any cell type of the adult body

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13
Q

examples of pluripotent stem cells

A

Inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocyst
Cell nucleus of adult tissue cells can be reprogrammed > induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC, more later!)

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14
Q

explain multipotent stem cells

A

can give rise to tissue-specific cell type of the adult body

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15
Q

explain unipotent stem cell

A

can give rise to one specific type of the adult body tissue cells

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16
Q

where do human embryonic stem cells come from ?

A

they are derived from inner cell mass of blastocysts

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17
Q

what is the use of human embryonic stem cells

A

used in IVF
if embryo holding them not of high quality, then they are donated

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18
Q

what is another term for adult stem cells

A

somatic stem cells

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19
Q

what are somatic stem cells

A

Undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that replenish and regenerate dying/damaged cells

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20
Q

where have stem cells been identified

A

adult tissues including skin, intestine, liver, brain and bone marrow

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21
Q

what are examples of stem cells

A

mesenchymal and haematopoietic stem cells
Bone marrow most studied

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22
Q

what is the problem with obtaining stem cells

A

Can be obtained from a tissue sample but difficult to isolate

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23
Q

why are stem cells difficult to obtain

A

Few in number
Difficult to keep them proliferating in culture

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24
Q

what do haematopoietic stem cells allow

A

constant renewal of blood cells

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25
where are haematopoietic stem cells usually found
bone marrow in bones such as femur spine sternum
26
what does a hematopoietic stem cell differentiate into
lymphoid progenitor myeloid progenitor
27
what does the lymphoid progenitor stem cell differentiate into
lymphocytes
28
what does myeloid progenitor cell differentiate into
platelets myeloblast mast cells and erythrocytes
29
what does the myeloblast differentiate into ?
moncytes basophil neutrophil eosinophil
30
what are two important examples of adult somatic cells
intestinal stem cells neural stem cells
31
what type of stem cell is intestinal stem ?
multipotent stem cell
32
where are intestinal stem cells found ?
intestinal epithelium
33
where are neuro progenitor found ?
in highly restricted regions of the adult brain to produce neurones
34
what type of stem cells are found in the adult CNS
multipotent
35
what is the function of adult stem cells in the CNS
multipotent give rise to new neurons and glial cells
36
what is the role of glial cells
activates neural stem cells
37
what are induced pluripotent stem cells
a way to make pluripotent stem cells without using embryos somatic - pluripotent
38
how are induced pluripotent stem cells made ?
they are made using transcription factors
39
what transcription factors are used
Treated with transcription factors (Oct-3/4, SOX2, c-Myc, and KLF4)
40
what is the use of transcription factors to make ipscs
switch on genes that had previously been turned off to reprogramme the cell back into pluripotency
41
explain the difference between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells in terms of the type of stem cell they are ?
adult stem cell -> multipotent embryonic stem cell -> pluripotent
42
why is there difficulty surrounding adult stem cells
difficult to culture and expand
43
what is a difficulty surrounding embryonic stem cells
rejection problem allogenic can be attacked by the recipient's immune system
44
explain embryonic stem cells in terms of culturing
they are easier to culture
45
explain specialisation of adult stem cells
able to become specialised cell types within the residing tissue or specific cell types of the tissue
46
explain specialisation in terms of embryonic stem cells
can become more than 220 types of cells in the body
47
what cancer stem cells
a subpopulation of stem-like cells within tumours
48
briefly explain characteristics of both cancer stem cells
Exhibit characteristics of both stem cells and cancer cells. ability to generate more stem cells (self-renewal) and to produce cells that differentiate
49
In addition to self-renewal and differentiation capacities, CSCs have the ability to do what ?
ability to seed tumours when transplanted into an animal host
50
what are progenitor cells ?
descendants of stem cells that are only capable of differentiating into cells that belong to the same tissue or organ
51
how many hypothesis are there for production of cancer stem cells
2
52
explain the intrinsic way of a cancer stem cell can be produced
normal stem cells (tissue) acquire cancerous characteristics - have the ability to regenerate via genetic mutation
53
how do stem cells acquire the cancerous characteristics
through genetic mutation Enviromental alteration
54
what is the extrinsic way of producing stem cell
normal somatic cells or progenitor cells acquire stem cell characteristics and malignant behaviour ( cancerous characteristics)
55
in the extrinsic pathway what is first produced
a mutated progenitor with stem cell like abilities
56
in both ways the cancer stem cells undergo what
asymmetric cell division and give rise to mutated progenitors, mutated stem cell (like the original) and mutated progenitor with stem cell like abilities (only in the extrinsic way)
57
what do the mutated progenitor cells have and lead to
high proliferative action so make large population not self renewing
58
what do the mutated stem cell and mutated progenitor cell with stem cell like abilities have
low proliferative action -> small population but can self renew
59
implication of cancer cells in treatment
normally cancer stem cells not targeted so tumour shrinks but grows back new drugs - target CSCs so tumour loses ability to generate new cells - tumour degenerates
60
how can we target cancer stem cells
Can use what we know about normal stem cells to identify and attack cancer stem cells and the malignant cells they produce. One recent success illustrating this approach is research on anti-CD47 therapy.
61
the promise of regenerative medicine is based on what
discovery of growth factors
62
what are growth factors
regulatory molecules that stimulate cell and tissue function through influencing cell differentiation Lead to change in biochemical activity, cellular growth, & regulate rate of proliferation
63
what is easier to mimic in terms of differentiation
Easier to mimic normal sequence of differentiation than to reverse (dedifferentiate)
64
what ae uses of stem cells
Regenerative medicine Repair or replace damaged or diseased human cells or tissues to restore normal function Tissue repair Drug screening Vehicles for gene therapy
65
what is example of stem cell therapy
bone marrow transplant to treat blood disorders such as leukaemia
66
what are the two categories of stem cell therapy
Autologous - from recipient or allogenic transplant from individual with same tissue type (HLA type)
67
what is a new way of stem cell therapy
blood sample – peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC), get a course of injections to stimulate release of stem cells into blood
68
what is first step of stem cell therapy
blood stem cells are removed from the bone marrow of healthy individual who is matched donor
69
what is the second step of stem cell therapy
patient receives treatment to destroy their own defective stem cells
70
what is the lasts step of stem cell therapy
patient receives the donated blood stem cells which go on to produce all the blood cells
71
explain new form of stem cell therapy - from blood sample
series of injections forces stem cells into circulation blood taken + centrifuged to extract stem cells
72
how can stem cells be able to develop cartilage transplant
Stem cells can be differentiated into chondrocytes in vitro 
73
what is the difficulty in using stem cells in cartilage treatment
cartilage regenerated by stem cells fails to fully recapitulate structural and biomechanical properties of original cartilage
74
explain new research into the idea of making new blood
pluripotent stem cells to make red blood cells for blood transfusion
75
what is the advantage of making 'new blood'
Donors & recipients only have to be blood group matched rather than tissue matched = lower rejection risk blood donation systems not needed - lives saved Valuable for those living with blood disorders e.g. beta-thalassemia, who require regular blood transfusions

week 3 (4 decks)

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