Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) found in the bone marrow play a central role in the formation and maintenance of the blood and immune systems. HSCs primarily reside primarily in the bone marrow, although they can also be found in small quantities in peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood. During embryonic development, HSCs originate from the mesodermal layer, migrate to the foetal liver, where they proliferate and differentiate, before migrating to the bone marrow. Chemokines play an important role in directing the migration of HSCs. Stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1 or CXCL12) is a key chemokine involved in HSC homing to the bone marrow. CXCR4, a receptor for SDF-1 is expressed on the surface of HSCs and interaction between SDF-1 and CXCR4 guides HSCs to the bone marrow. Additionally, integrins such as VLA-4 (Very Late Antigen-4 or α4β1 integrin) and VCAM-1 (Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1) are involved in the adhesive interactions between HSCs and the bone marrow microenvironment, with binding of integrins on HSCs to VCAM-1 on the surface of bone marrow stromal cells facilitating HSC homing. HSCs must also migrate through the endothelial cell layer lining the bone marrow blood vessels to enter the bone marrow in a process involving interactions between HSCs and endothelial cells, as well as the activation of adhesion molecules like P- and E-selectin. HSCs self-renew, meaning that they can divide and give rise to daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell, ensuring a constant source of new stem cells. This self-renewal capacity is vital for the maintenance of a functional hematopoietic system in adults. HSCs are multipotent, meaning they have the potential to differentiate into a variety of blood cell types. They give rise to both myeloid and lymphoid progenitors, which subsequently differentiate into red blood cells, white blood cells (including granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes), and platelets. This multipotency allows HSCs to generate all the cell types necessary for oxygen transport, immune defence, and blood clotting. HSCs are typically in a quiescent or dormant state, characterized by slow cell division. This quiescence helps protect them from DNA damage and preserves their self-renewal capacity over extended periods. However, in response to signals such as injury or blood loss, HSCs can become activated and start dividing to replenish the blood cell populations rapidly. The self-renewal and differentiation of HSCs are regulated by various cytokines and growth factors. For example, factors like stem cell factor (SCF) and thrombopoietin (TPO) play critical roles in maintaining HSC function. Alterations in the balance of these regulatory signals can have profound effects on haematopoiesis. HSCs are identified and isolated based on the expression of specific cell surface markers. Common markers include CD34 and CD38. These markers allow researchers to distinguish HSCs from other cell types in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. HSCs are widely used in clinical settings for bone marrow and stem cell transplants to treat various haematological disorders and cancers. Their ability to engraft and repopulate the recipient's hematopoietic system is a testament to their transplantation potential. We provide a wide product range of research reagents for investigating hematopoietic stem cells, including CD3 antibodies, CD10 antibodies, CD34 antibodies, c-Kit ELISA Kits, and CD10 ELISA Kits. Explore our full hematopoietic stem cells product range below and discover more, for less. Alternatively, you can explore our Human Lineage Negative, Murine Lineage Negative, and HSC Markers product ranges.