oligopotente

Oligopotente, or oligopotent, describes stem or progenitor cells with a limited differentiation potential: they can give rise to only a small subset of cell types, typically within a single tissue lineage, rather than the broad output of pluripotent or multipotent cells. Oligopotent cells are more restricted than multipotent cells but retain more flexibility than unipotent cells, which differentiate into a single final cell type.

In practice, oligopotent progenitors are often described in the context of a particular lineage. In hematopoiesis, for example, granulocyte–monocyte progenitors (GMPs) can differentiate into granulocytes and monocytes, and megakaryocyte–erythroid progenitors (MEPs) can give rise to megakaryocytes and erythrocytes. These progenitors are considered oligopotent because their lineage output is limited to a narrow set of related cell types within the hematopoietic system. Similar concepts apply in other tissues, where progenitors may be restricted to a few related cell fates such as specific glial or neuronal lineages.

Potency is assessed experimentally using lineage-restricted differentiation assays, cloning or colony-forming unit assays, and in vivo transplantation or lineage-tracing studies, often complemented by molecular profiling to identify lineage-associated markers and transcriptional programs. It is important to note that potency is a continuum and the exact classification can vary between organisms, tissues, and experimental contexts. The term oligopotent emphasizes the limited but not singular differentiation potential relative to more expansive progenitor states.