Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have made a significant discovery which could enhance the effectiveness of stem-cell transplants used to treat cancer, blood disorders, and autoimmune diseases. The study, published in Science, involved mice and highlighted how hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), responsible for producing all blood cells, are mobilized from the bone marrow into the bloodstream for transplantation.
The research team, led by Ulrich Steidl, M.D., Ph.D., found that the current drugs used to mobilize HSCs often fail to release enough cells, limiting the success of transplants. Their research uncovered a novel process called trogocytosis, where HSCs acquire surface proteins from macrophages, a type of immune cell. This acquisition, especially in HSCs expressing high levels of the protein c-Kit, causes them to remain in the bone marrow instead of mobilizing. The study suggests that targeting c-Kit could improve HSC mobilization, making more cells available for effective transplantation.
The findings represent a major advance in understanding how HSCs are mobilized and open new avenues for improving stem-cell therapies. The research builds on the legacy of Paul S. Frenette, M.D., a pioneer in this field, and ongoing efforts will explore other potential roles of trogocytosis in blood regeneration and the treatment of hematologic malignancies.