Abstract

The functions of our blood are coagulation, oxygen and nutrient transportation, toxics and waste disposal and immunity. These tasks are achieved by multiple cell types (platelets, erythrocytes and leukocytes) that continuously develop from a common ancestor (hematopoiesis); i.e. the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). HSCs reside in the bone marrow and represent only a minor fraction of adult blood cells; 0.01-0.05%. Differentiation of HSCs into mature blood cells occurs in the bone marrow and/or secondary lymphoid organs including thymus and spleen following specific stimuli. During hematopoiesis, HSCs first differentiate into lineage restricted immature myeloid or lymphoid precursor cells (blasts). These can then develop further into erythrocytes (red blood cells), thrombocytes (platelets), or leukocytes (white blood cells). Leukocytes include granulocytes and macrophages (i.e. the myeloid cells) and B- and T lymphocytes.

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R. Pieters (Rob)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
The work described in this thesis was performed at the Department of Pediatric Oncology/ Hematology of the Erasmus Medical Center – Sophia Children’s Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands and was funded by “Kinderen Kankervrij (KiKa)” . The publication of this thesis was financially supported by: Stichtiong KOR, AMGEN, and Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/77646
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Zuurbier, L. (2014, December 17). Relevance of Signal Transduction Pathway Mutations in Pedriatic T-All. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/77646