Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC)

Donor hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are multipotent cells that serve as the foundation of the hematopoietic system, possessing the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into all mature blood cell types. In clinical practice, these cells are harvested from healthy donors—typically from the bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord—and transplanted into recipients to treat life-threatening conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, and various genetic blood disorders (StatPearls, 2023). The therapeutic utility of donor HSPCs is facilitated by drugs like G-CSF (filgrastim) and plerixafor, which mobilize the cells from their bone marrow niches into the bloodstream for collection (AABB, 2023). Once infused into a patient, these cells must home to the bone marrow and engraft to initiate the production of new, healthy blood and immune cells (NIH, 2024). Recent innovations in the field include the use of CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically engineer donor HSPCs, such as deleting the CD33 antigen to protect the graft from subsequent anti-CD33 therapies in acute myeloid leukemia (Vor Biopharma, 2023). Despite their curative potential, the use of donor HSPCs carries significant risks, most notably graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), where the donor-derived immune cells attack the recipient's tissues (NIH, 2024). Successful outcomes depend on precise HLA matching, effective conditioning regimens, and the monitoring of biomarkers like CD34 to ensure an adequate stem cell dose (Frontiers, 2022). These cells are also being explored for inducing immune tolerance in organ transplantation, potentially allowing recipients to discontinue immunosuppressive medications (ClinicalTrials.gov, 2025).

Other names

Hematopoietic stem cellHSCCD34+ cellBlood stem cellDonor HSPC

Mobilization of cells from the bone marrow into peripheral blood; engraftment and differentiation to reconstitute the hematopoietic system.