What are some examples of unipotent cells?

Unipotent cells are a type of stem cell that can only differentiate into one specific cell type. They are more restricted in their differentiation potential compared to pluripotent or multipotent stem cells. Here are some examples of unipotent cells:

Spermatogonial stem cells: These cells in the testes can only differentiate into sperm cells (spermatozoa).

Myoblasts: Myoblasts are unipotent stem cells found in muscle tissue. They can only give rise to muscle cells (myocytes).

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells: These cells in the central nervous system can only differentiate into oligodendrocytes, which are responsible for producing myelin, a substance that insulates nerve fibers.

Keratinocytes: Keratinocytes are unipotent cells found in the skin and are responsible for producing the protein keratin, which forms the structural basis of the epidermis.

Hepatoblasts: Hepatoblasts are unipotent cells found in the liver and can only differentiate into hepatocytes, the primary functional cells of the liver.

Pancreatic beta-cell progenitors: These cells are unipotent and give rise to insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

These examples illustrate how unipotent stem cells are specialized to differentiate into a single, specific cell type, making them different from pluripotent or multipotent stem cells, which have broader differentiation potential.