Ameera Gaafar

Ameera Gaafar


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
12 February 2025 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AGAmeera Gaafar
Ameera Gaafar
FHFatheia Hamza
Fatheia Hamza
RYRama Yousif
Rama Yousif
ZSZakia Shinwari
Zakia Shinwari
AAAminah Ghazi Alotaibi
Aminah Ghazi Alotaibi
AAAlaiya Ayodele
Alaiya Ayodele
Background/Objectives: We aimed to identify the molecular signatures of primitive CD34+ and CD34− hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSC/HPC) subsets in cord blood and bone marrow samples. Methods: CD34+ and CD34− HSC/HPC subsets from cord blood and bone marrow were characterized using flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and proteomic analysis to evaluate their phenotypic and molecular profiles. Results: Our findings revealed a significantly higher percentage of Lin−CD34−CD38Low/− (−/−) cells than of Lin−CD34+CD38Low/− (+/−) cells in cord blood. Aldehyde dehydrogenase levels were significantly lower in (−/−) than in (+/−) cells. Clonogenic ability was lower in (−/−) than in (+/−) cells. However, CD34− cells exhibited potent megakaryocyte/erythrocyte differentiation ability. Importantly, the HSC/HPC subsets expressed pluripotency or stemness genes (SOX2, Nanog, and OCT4); however, OCT4 expression significantly increased in (−/−) compared with (+/−) cells. We identified 304 proteins in the HSC/HPC subsets—85.6% had similar expression patterns in the two subsets; only 14.4% were differentially expressed between (−/−) and (+/−) cells. This implies their comparability at the protein level. Certain proteins were implicated in cellular-development-, gene-expression-, and embryonic-development-related signaling networks. Conclusions: Distinct biological and functional characteristics were observed between (−/−) and (+/−) HSC/HPC subsets. Some of the identified proteins may be novel HSC/HPC subsets markers for clinical applications after validation.