Myeloid Cell Differentiation and Function in Hematopoietic Systems
Summary
Cells of the myeloid lineage arise from multipotent haematopoietic stem cells resident in the bone marrow, undergoing a series of lineage commitment steps that yield granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils), monocytes and their derivative macrophages and dendritic cells. This process, known as myelopoiesis, is orchestrated by extrinsic cues such as growth factors and cytokines—most notably G-CSF and GM-CSF—and by intrinsic transcription factors including PU.1, C/EBPα and IRF8. Through differentiation, myeloid cells acquire specialised effector functions: neutrophils generate reactive oxygen species and form neutrophil extracellular traps to neutralise pathogens; monocytes migrate to tissues and differentiate into macrophages, executing phagocytosis and antigen presentation. The balance between steady-state granulopoiesis and emergency responses to infection is critical for host defence and homeostasis. Dysregulation of these pathways underlies a range of disorders, from congenital neutropenias to myeloproliferative diseases. Recent technological advances—such as ex vivo culture systems, conditional immortalisation models and genome editing—have deepened our understanding of the molecular circuits that guide myeloid lineage fate and function, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies in infection control, immunomodulation and regenerative medicine.
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Myeloid Cell Differentiation and Function in Hematopoietic Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in myeloid cell differentiation and function in hematopoietic systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Haematopoietic stem cell: A multipotent cell in the bone marrow that gives rise to all blood cell types.
Myeloid progenitor: A committed precursor that differentiates into granulocytes, monocytes and related cell types.
Granulopoiesis: The process by which granulocytic cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) develop from progenitors.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules produced by immune cells to destroy pathogens.
Phagocytosis: The cellular process of engulfing and digesting particles or microbes.
References
- Large-scale ex vivo generation of human neutrophils from cord blood CD34+ cells. PLOS ONE (2017).
- Intracellular Accumulation and Secretion of YKL-40 (CHI3L1) in the Course of DMSO-Induced HL-60 Cell Differentiation. Pharmaceuticals (2024).
- Bi-fluorescent Staphylococcus aureus infection enables single-cell analysis of intracellular killing in vivo. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- Imaging, myeloid precursor immortalization, and genome editing for defining mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment in vivo. Theranostics (2018).
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