Human CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cell hierarchy: how far are we with its delineation at the most primitive level?

The ability to isolate and characterize different hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) or progenitor cell populations opens avenues to understand how hematopoiesis is regulated during development, homeostasis, and regeneration as well as in age-related conditions such as clonal hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. Significant progress has been made in the past few decades in determining the composition of the cell types that exist in this system, but the most significant advances have come from mouse studies. However, recent breakthroughs have made significant strides that have enhanced the resolution of the human primitive hematopoietic compartment. Therefore, we aim to review this subject not only from a historical perspective but also to discuss the progress made in the characterization of the human postnatal CD34(+) HSC–enriched populations. This approach will enable us to shed light on the potential future translational applicability of human HSCs.