Electron micorograph of red blood cell, platelet, and T-lymphocyteWIKIMEDIA COMMONS, NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
A transcription factor that is usually only expressed in fetal stem cells can make adult blood stem cells act like their younger counterparts, according to a new study published today (July 31) in Genes and Development. The findings hold promise for treating leukemia by converting cancerous adult stem cells, which are driven by pro-cancer growth signals, into fetal stem cells, which don’t respond to those signals.
“This is a fascinating paper that turns back the clock on hematopoietic stem cells,” said George Daley, a stem cell biologist at Children’s Hospital in Boston, who was not involved in the study. “This is highly significant for understanding how aged blood cells might be rejuvenated and adds to a growing literature that teaches us that we can alter ...
