科學圖說

生命的支撐(Life Support)

間充質幹細胞，是一種具有自我複製能力和多向分化潛能的成體幹細胞。這種幹細胞能夠發育成硬骨、骨、脂肪和其他類型的細胞。間充質幹細胞可以接受移植，而它們會成長為何種類型的細胞，取決於其被注入部位。例如被注入心臟的間充質幹細胞，能夠形成健康的新組織。  
圖1 利用共軛焦顯微鏡，顯示人類骨髓間充質1幹細胞。經過螢光標記，幹細胞在顯微鏡下顯示為綠色。綠色代表著希望，圖中的影像如夢似幻，像魚？像蝌蚪？像螢火蟲？實則更像生命的軌跡！
圖 2 利用共軛焦顯微鏡，顯示人類骨髓間充質幹細胞。經過螢光標記，肌動蛋白纖維在顯微鏡下顯示為色，細胞核顯示為藍色，兩個細胞核重疊正好形成了心形。幹細胞的利用有多重可能性，為人類美好生活打開方便之門。

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can replicate and differentiate into a variety of cell types, such as osteoblasts (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), and adipocytes (fat cells). They can also be transplanted. The types of cells they develop into depend on where they are transplanted. For example, in the heart, MSCs can develop into new heart tissue. In image 1, confocal microscopywas used to show MSCs in human bone marrow. They appear green due to fluorescent marker. The color green represents hope. Do the shapes look like fish? Tadpoles? Fireflies? They most resemble pathways to life! In image 2, confocal microscopy was also used to present MSCs in human bone marrow. Due to the addition of fluorescent markers, actin in the cytoskeleton appears red, while nuclei appear blue. The nuclei of two stem cells overlap to form heart shapes. Today many applications of stem cells have been adopted, opening the door to a better quality of life.