Researchers Identify 7 Genes Key to Generating HSCs

Stem cells have the potential to become any cell type in the body, provided the correct genetic instructions are given at the right time. For patients with blood cancers, replacing damaged blood stem cells in the bone marrow is often necessary, but finding a compatible donor can be difficult. A possible solution is to generate blood-producing cells in the laboratory from basic stem cells, which could then be used to restore healthy bone marrow.

To achieve this, it is essential to determine which genes need to be activated in stem cells. Anna Bigas and her team at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute conducted an extensive screening of thousands of genes in the mouse genome to identify those capable of transforming embryonic stem cells into blood precursors, specifically hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Their research pinpointed a group of seven genes that appeared to accomplish this transformation.

Further experiments demonstrated that activating these seven genes at the right time was enough to convert mouse embryonic stem cells into HSCs. These lab-generated cells were able to regenerate and maintain a functional blood system in adult mice, producing all types of blood cells, including those of the immune system.

The research, published in the journal Blood, serves as a proof-of-concept for the Bigas Lab’s project, Making Blood, which aims to create a platform for producing human HSCs. If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments for leukemia and other blood disorders.