🧬 Immune Cell Development & Immunohistochemistry Guide

Interactive Lineage Chart

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Stem Cells

Myeloid Lineage

Lymphoid Lineage

Terminal/Mature Cells

🔴 Stem & Progenitor Cells

Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC)

Markers: CD34+ CD38- CD90+ CD45RA-

Function: Multipotent stem cell giving rise to all blood cells

Multipotent Progenitor (MPP)

Markers: CD34+ CD38+ CD90- CD45RA-

Function: Retains broad differentiation potential

🔵 Myeloid Lineage

Common Myeloid Progenitor (CMP)

Markers: CD34+ CD38+ CD123+ CD45RA-

Function: Gives rise to all myeloid cells

Megakaryocyte-Erythroid Progenitor

Markers: CD34+ CD38+ CD123- CD45RA-

Function: Produces red cells and platelets

Granulocyte-Monocyte Progenitor

Markers: CD34+ CD38+ CD123+ CD45RA+

Function: Produces granulocytes and monocytes

Mast Cell Progenitor

Markers: CD34+ CD117+

Function: Produces mast cells

Megakaryocyte

Markers: CD41+ CD42+ CD61+

Function: Platelet production

Erythrocyte (Red Blood Cell)

Markers: CD235a+ Band3+

Function: Oxygen transport throughout the body

Platelets

Markers: CD41+ CD42b+ CD61+

Function: Blood clotting and wound healing

Neutrophil

Markers: CD15+ CD16+ CD66b+ MPO+

Function: First responder; phagocytosis of bacteria

Eosinophil

Markers: CD15+ CD16- CCR3+ Siglec-8+

Function: Parasite defense; allergic responses

Basophil

Markers: CD123+ CD203c+ FcεRI+

Function: Inflammatory mediator release

Monocyte

Markers: CD14+ CD16+/- HLA-DR+

Function: Phagocytosis and differentiation

Macrophage

Markers: CD68+ CD163+ CD206+
M1: CD80+ CD86+ | M2: CD206+ CD163+

Function: Phagocytosis, antigen presentation, tissue repair

Dendritic Cell

Markers: CD11c+ HLA-DR++
cDC1: CD141+ | cDC2: CD1c+ | pDC: CD123+

Function: Professional antigen presenter; links innate & adaptive immunity

Mast Cell

Markers: CD117+ FcεRI+ CD203c+ Tryptase+

Function: Allergic responses; inflammatory mediator release

🟢 Lymphoid Lineage

Common Lymphoid Progenitor (CLP)

Markers: CD34+ CD38+ CD10+ CD45RA+

Function: Gives rise to all lymphoid cells

Pro-B Cell

Markers: CD19+ CD10+ CD34+ TdT+ RAG1/2+

Function: Develop into antibody-producing cells

Pro-T Cell

Markers: CD34+ CD7+ CD1a- TdT+ RAG1/2+

Function: Migrate to thymus for development

NK Progenitor

Markers: CD34+ CD122+

Function: NK cell development

ILC Progenitor

Markers: CD127+ CD117+

Function: ILC development

Double Positive T Cell

Markers: CD3+ CD4+ CD8+ TCRαβ+

Function: Thymic selection stage

Double Negative T Cell

Markers: CD3+ CD4- CD8- TCRαβ+ or TCRγδ+

Function: Specialized regulatory and surveillance roles

🟠 Terminal/Mature Immune Cells

Adaptive Immunity (Lymphoid-derived)

Mature B Cell

Markers: CD19+ CD20+ CD21+ IgM+ IgD+

Function: Antibody production

Plasma Cell

Markers: CD38++ CD138+ CD19- CD20-

Function: High-level antibody secretion

Memory B Cell

Markers: CD19+ CD20+ CD27+ IgD-

Function: Long-term immunity

CD4+ T Helper

Subtypes:
Th1: CXCR3+ T-bet+ IFN-γ+
Th2: CCR4+ GATA3+ IL-4+
Th17: CCR6+ RORγt+ IL-17+
Treg: CD25+ CD127low FOXP3+

Function: Coordinate immune responses

CD8+ CTL

Markers: CD8+ Granzyme B+ Perforin+

Function: Directly kills infected/tumor cells

Natural Killer Cell

Markers: CD56+ CD16+/- CD3- NKG2D+ KIRs+

Function: Kills stressed/infected cells without prior sensitization

NKT Cell

Markers: CD3+ CD1d-restricted
Vα24-Jα18 (human) Vα14-Jα18 (mouse)

Function: Rapid cytokine release; bridge innate/adaptive immunity

γδ T Cell

Markers: CD3+ TCRγδ+ Vδ1+ or Vδ2+

Function: Tissue surveillance; non-MHC restricted

DN αβ T Cell

Markers: CD3+ TCRαβ+ CD4- CD8- FAS-L+ Perforin+

Function: Immunoregulation; transplant tolerance

ILC1

Markers: CD127+ CD117- T-bet+ IFN-γ+

Function: Similar to Th1; early defense

ILC2

Markers: CD127+ CD117+ GATA3+ CRTH2+ IL-5+ IL-13+

Function: Allergic responses

ILC3

Markers: CD127+ CD117+ RORγt+ IL-17+ IL-22+

Function: Mucosal immunity