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Gene therapy for blood disorders

Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a novel approach to gene therapy using microparticles that deliver gene-regulating material to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This technology could potentially treat inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia by altering the genetic defect in t...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 4, 2018

A system of check and balances in the blood

Researchers at the University of Vienna discovered a mechanism that regulates HSCs' delicate balance between activation and dormancy, ensuring proper blood cell production. The study found that a feedback loop involving two intracellular signalling pathways maintains this balance, preventing exhaustion and potential death.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMay 24, 2018

Regulation of the Hoxb gene cluster maintains blood-forming cells and inhibits leukemia

Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered a global regulatory element within the Hoxb cluster that controls its expression in blood-forming stem cells. This mechanism helps maintain normal hematopoiesis and prevents acute myeloid leukemia by regulating Hoxb cluster genes in a methylation-dependent manner.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMay 8, 2018

Routing gene therapy directly into the brain

Scientists have made a breakthrough in treating neurodegenerative disorders and lysosomal storage diseases by transplanting hematopoietic stem cells directly into the brain, achieving therapeutic benefits faster than traditional methods. This innovative technique could pave the way for new treatments for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and o...

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 6, 2017

Scientists trace the stem cells that repopulate bone marrow after transplantation

Researchers have identified a distinct subset of hematopoietic stem cells capable of fully repopulating the bone marrow after transplantation. These cells, marked by specific surface markers, were found to be essential for successful bone marrow transplantation in nonhuman primates and show promise for human applications.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 1, 2017

New way to prevent unfavorable intestinal microbiota

Researchers found that antimicrobial peptide R-Spondin1 stimulates intestinal stem cells to differentiate into Paneth cells, which secrete alpha-defensins with strong antimicrobial activity. Administration of R-Spondin1 restored gut microbiota in mice with graft-versus-host disease, preventing depletion of Paneth cells and dysbiosis.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateOct 24, 2017

Bacterial infection stresses hematopoietic stem cells

Recent research reveals that bacterial infections activate hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, inducing proliferation but also causing stress and reduced ability to produce blood. This finding suggests a link between bacterial infections and dysregulated hematopoiesis, highlighting potential prevention methods for blood diseases.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateAug 23, 2017

Clinical trial shows ready-to-use cells are safe and effective to treat viral infections

A clinical trial has demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment using virus-specific cells to treat viral infections in patients who have received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The treatment resulted in an overall complete or partial response rate of 92% in patients with severe, drug-resistant viral infections.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateAug 8, 2017

Which type of cell to become: Decision through indecision

Researchers found that cell fate decision is not a unique programmed event, but rather the outcome of a dynamic process where cells explore different molecular possibilities before reaching a stable state. This process is reminiscent of trial-and-error learning and highlights the complexity of human hematopoietic cell fate commitment.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 27, 2017

Deep Learning predicts hematopoietic stem cell development

Researchers developed an algorithm that uses Deep Learning to predict the decision of hematopoietic stem cells to become a certain cell type. This enables earlier detection and analysis of blood cell development, paving the way for new treatments and insights into developmental traits.

Researchers describe bone marrow stem cell population with potential for repeat transplantation

A new study reveals that non-blood cell forming stem cells in human bone marrow play a crucial role in maintaining the hematopoietic microenvironment and retain self-renewal potential after primary and secondary transplantations. The findings suggest an alternative to traditional hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalStem Cells and Development·DateNov 9, 2016

Bone marrow inflammation predicts leukemia risk

Researchers discover that inflammatory signaling in bone marrow tumor environment drives malignancy and predicts leukemia development. The study reveals that mesenchymal stem cells under stress release inflammatory molecules causing DNA damage in hematopoietic stem cells, increasing leukemia risk.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateOct 3, 2016