ABSTRACT
Proteins, sugars and lipids present on the cell surface can be used to identify and isolate stem cells. Accordingly, cell surface markers for most of the currently known stem cells have been described and technologies developed to prospectively isolate stem cells using fl ow cytometric or magnetic cell sorting techniques. In addition, protocols for the dissociation of tissue without destroying the respective surface markers have been established. Here, we give a comprehensive overview of currently used surface markers and their pros and cons. Besides human and mouse pluripotent stem cells, we address cancer stem cells and multipotent tissue stem and progenitor cells of the brain, skin, blood, gonads, breast, prostate, spleen, kidney, gut, muscle, heart and lung.
