Seven Genes Can Turn Stem Cells Into Blood Precursors, Research Shows

Researchers at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute have discovered a method to produce blood cell precursors from stem cells in mice. This was achieved by activating a set of seven key genes in the laboratory. The team, led by Dr. Anna Bigas, is working towards producing precursor cells able to restore the bone marrow of blood cancer patients. Stem cells can produce any other cell type by activating the proper genetic program. Blood cancer patients often require the replacement of their blood stem cells in the bone marrow. Finding a compatible donor can be challenging, so producing blood cells in the lab from basic stem cells could regenerate a new and healthy bone marrow. The team screened thousands of genes in the mice genome to identify those able to transform an embryonic stem cell into a Haematopoietic Stem Cell (HPSC). The screening identified a group of seven genes apparently able to accomplish the task. The timely activation of the seven genes was sufficient to transform mouse embryonic stem cells into HSPC. These newly produced cells were able to regenerate and sustain a functional blood system in adult mice. They produced all kinds of blood cells, including the immune lineages. The research was published in the journal *Blood*, the official outlet of the American Society of Hematology. Dr. Bigas believes the results obtained in mice can be translated into the human system. She points out that the genes are also present in the human genome and are highly conserved. Research is underway to determine if they play the same role in humans as in mice. This research is a proof-of-concept for the Bigas Lab's ERC synergy-funded project Making Blood. The project aims to develop a technological platform for the production of human HSPC off the shelf. If successful, a new era in the treatment of leukaemia and other blood disorders, based on regenerative medicine, may be near.