ABSTRACT
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are located at the apex of the hematopoietic system and are defined by their capacity to self-renew and to differentiate into all blood cell lineages while retaining a robust capacity to regenerate hematopoiesis following transplantation. The isolation of murine and human adult rare hematopoietic cells expressing typical surface markers, combined with usage of in vitro and in vivo functional assays, has provided fundamental insights into the biology of this life-dependent cell. This chapter provides an overview of the history of the biology of HSC, discusses research advances in the field of the regulatory mechanisms that orchestrate hematopoietic development and homeostasis, and finally covers recent approaches for the expansion of human HSC in a cell-based therapy setting.
