Homing-associated cell adhesion molecule (H-CAM/CD44) on human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells

Human CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) express CD44 and can directly adhere to hyaluronate (HA) via CD44. Furthermore, CD44 may also be involved in the regulation of CD34(+) HPC proliferation and development. The expression of CD44 molecules on CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells is significantly lower on bone marrow (BM) CD34(+) cells compared with circulating CD34(+) cells in cord blood and peripheral blood. Myeloid and erythroid progenitor cells are found predominantly in CD34(+)CD44(+) cell fractions. More interestingly, CD34(+)CD44(+) cells expressing B-lymphocyte-associated CD10 and CD19 would represent unique B-lymphocyte committed precursors in the BM, which might undergo apoptotic cell death in the early steps of B-cell differentiation.