Progenitor cell

Neural progenitors (green) in olfactory bulb with astrocytes (blue).
Example of the pattern of division of a progenitor cell (PC) which results in the production of an intermediate progenitor cell (IPC). Both cells later produce one or two neural cells (N).

A progenitor cell is a biological cell that can differentiate into a specific cell type. Stem cells and progenitor cells have this ability in common. However, stem cells are less specified than progenitor cells. Progenitor cells can only differentiate into their "target" cell type.[1] The most important difference between stem cells and progenitor cells is that stem cells can replicate indefinitely, whereas progenitor cells can divide only a limited number of times. Controversy about the exact definition remains and the concept is still evolving.[2]

The terms "progenitor cell" and "stem cell" are sometimes equated.[3]

  1. ^ Lawrence BE, Horton PM (2013). Progenitor Cells : Biology, Characterization and Potential Clinical Applications. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. p. 26.
  2. ^ Seaberg RM, van der Kooy D (March 2003). "Stem and progenitor cells: the premature desertion of rigorous definitions". Trends in Neurosciences. 26 (3): 125–31. doi:10.1016/S0166-2236(03)00031-6. PMID 12591214. S2CID 18639810.
  3. ^ "progenitor cell" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary