PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists say they have discovered a specific protein signals stem cells in the bone marrow of mice to reproduce and remain at rest.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Wei Tong and her team of researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia studied hematopoeietic stem cells, or HSCs, in mice. HSCs can either reproduce or transform themselves into red blood cells, platelet cells or immune cells. Tong and her colleagues discovered a protein called Lnk signals HSCs to reproduce, rather than develop into other types of blood cells.
The research team said it also found most of the new stem cells were in a resting stage in the cell cycle. Resting cells are less likely to be rejected when they are used in bone marrow transplants.
Tong said her findings might help improve the success of bone marrow transplants and lead to better treatments for life-threatening blood diseases.
The study appears online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
