Oligopotent, multipotent, totipotent, and pluripotent are terms that describe the differentiation potential of stem cells in biology, specifically their ability to develop into different cell types. Here's a brief overview of each:
-
Totipotent Cells:
- Definition: Totipotent cells have the ability to differentiate into any cell type in an organism, including both the embryonic and extraembryonic tissues (such as the placenta).
- Example: The fertilized egg (zygote) and the first few divisions of cells (up to the 8-cell stage in humans) are considered totipotent because they can create a complete organism.
-
Pluripotent Cells:
- Definition: Pluripotent cells can give rise to nearly all cell types that make up the body (the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) but cannot form extraembryonic tissues.
- Example: Embryonic stem cells (derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst) are pluripotent because they can develop into any cell type of the body but not into placental cells.
-
Multipotent Cells:
- Definition: Multipotent cells can differentiate into a limited range of cell types, typically within a specific tissue or organ.
- Example: Adult stem cells (such as hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow that can develop into various types of blood cells) are considered multipotent because they can create multiple types of cells but are restricted to a specific lineage.
-
Oligopotent Cells:
- Definition: Oligopotent cells have the capacity to differentiate into a few cell types, usually within a related group of cells.
- Example: Lymphoid or myeloid stem cells (which can produce several types of lymphocytes or blood cells but not all types) are considered oligopotent.
In summary, the potential of stem cells decreases in the following order: totipotent > pluripotent > multipotent > oligopotent, reflecting their ability to differentiate into various cell types.