A human peripheral blood monocyte-derived subset acts as pluripotent stem cells

doi:10.1073/pnas.0536882100

A human peripheral blood monocyte-derived subset acts as pluripotent stem cells

Biochip Technology Center, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439

Edited by Janet D. Rowley, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, and approved January 13, 2003 (received for review November 8, 2002)

Abstract

We have identified, cultured, characterized, and propagated adult pluripotent stem cells (PSC) from a subset of human peripheral blood monocytes. These cells, which in appearance resemble fibroblasts, expand in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and display monocytic and hematopoietic stem cell markers including CD14, CD34, and CD45. We have induced these cells to differentiate into mature macrophages by lipopolysaccharide, T lymphocytes by IL-2, epithelial cells by epidermal growth factor, endothelial cells by vascular endothelial cell growth factor, neuronal cells by nerve growth factor, and liver cells by hepatocyte growth factor. The pluripotent nature of individual PSC was further confirmed by a clonal analysis. The ability to store, expand, and differentiate these PSC from autologous peripheral blood should make them valuable candidates for transplantation therapy.

Footnotes

↵ * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: elih{at}anl.gov.
This paper was submitted directly (Track II) to the PNAS office.
Abbreviations:

AFP,

α-fetoprotein;

EGF,

epidermal growth factor;

f-MΦ,

f-macrophages;

HGF,

hepatocyte growth factor;

HLA,

human leukocyte antigen;

LPS,

lipopolysaccharide;

MAP-1B,

microtubule-associated protein-1B;

M-CSF,

macrophage colony-stimulating growth factor;

NF,

neurofilament;

NGF,

β-nerve growth factor;

NSE,

neuron-specific enolase;

PSC,

pluripotent stem cells;

s-MΦ,

standard macrophages;

VEGF,

vascular endothelial growth factor;

vWF,

von Willebrand factor;

LIF,

leukemia inhibitory factor