Marrow stem cell gene is identified

Published: April 14, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Order reprints
BOSTON, April 14 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have identified a gene responsible for the division and movement of marrow-derived, blood-forming stem cells.

The researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center said their discovery could have major implications for the future of bone marrow and blood cell transplantation.

Every year, some 45,000 people undergo bone marrow or peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation for treatment of a variety of diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma and immunodeficiency. The Joslin scientists say blood cell transplantation might also one day help people with diabetes better tolerate islet cell transplants without the need for prolonged use of powerful immunosuppressive drugs.

In studying mice that lack the transcription factor early growth response gene, or EGR-1, a Joslin team led by Amy Wagers, found hematopoietic stem cells in the marrow of the mice divided about twice as often as stem cells in mice with the gene. Mice lacking EGR-1 also had higher numbers of such stem cells circulating in their blood.

The study is the first to identify EGR-1 as a regulator of hematopoietic stem cell migration and proliferation.

The research is reported in the journal Cell Stem Cell.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Grain futures close mixed (6 min)
Couple in Lisa Nowak case set to marry (6 min)
U.S. Sen. Burris says 'no' to re-election (7 min)
Couple with large adoptive family killed (8 min)
Group official targeted over gay marriage (17 min)
UPI NewsTrack Business (19 min)
Crude oil prices drop Friday (20 min)
fark
This sounds safe: 500,000 people with access to military weapons, all going through nicotine withdrawal...
"She's an opportunistic gold-digging attention whore," says opportunistic gold-digging attention...
Llost llamas llocated in Llouisville
2001: Teacher fired for sleeping with student. 2003: Hired again by same school. 2006: Fired again...
Drunk man on tractor leads police on wild, 40-minute chase at speeds up to 12 MPH
Once suspected of causing leprosy and shunned because it's never mentioned in the Bible, the humble...