Researchers at Kumamoto University have achieved a groundbreaking advancement in stem cell biology by reproducing the developmental process of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro. This culture system not only enhances our understanding of how HSCs develop but also leads to the development of a new tool that could be instrumental in stem cell therapy and blood disease treatments in the future.
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), the body's primary source for producing blood cells throughout life, develop through several stages. The research team, led by Professor Minetaro Ogawa and Assistant Professor Saori Morino-Koga from the Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, discovered that specific signaling molecules are necessary at each differentiation stage. The culture system established in their study reproduces the microenvironment where HSC development occurs and has successfully differentiated mouse embryo-derived hemogenic (blood-producing) endothelial cells, which are HSC progenitors, into transplantable HSCs.
This culture system is notably accessible and versatile, as it does not require genetically modified feeder cells or the use of serum that previously limited the scalability and reproducibility of HSC generation. The researchers utilized commercially available endothelial cell lines as feeder cells, adding only two signaling molecules: stem cell factor (SCF) and thrombopoietin (TPO). The result was the successful induction of HSCs from embryo-derived hemogenic endothelial cells, demonstrating the method's effectiveness and potential for broader applications.
The researchers anticipate that this culture system will be a powerful tool for further studies on the molecular mechanisms of HSC development. Furthermore, they hope it will eventually lead to the induction of HSCs from pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, thus opening new avenues for stem cell-based therapies for blood diseases.
