2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Molecular mechanisms by which microenvironmental niches regulate production of immune cells.
| Project Area | Analysis and synthesis of multi-dimensional immune organ network |
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| Project/Area Number |
24111003
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Review Section |
Biological Sciences
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| Research Institution | Osaka University (2015-2016)
Kyoto University (2012-2014) |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2012-06-28 – 2017-03-31
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| Keywords | 免疫学 / 再生医学 / 発生・分化 / 微小環境 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
All immune cells are generated from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow. HSCs are in contact with and maintained by restricted microenvironments, termed niches; however, the identity of cells creating HSC niches has been a subject of longstanding debate. We identified a population of mesenchymal cells, termed CXCL12-abundant reticular (CAR) cells and revealed that CAR cells create a critical niche for HSCs and lympho-hematopoiesis. In this study, we found that the transcription factor Foxc1 was preferentially expressed in CAR cells in bone marrow and was essential for development and maintenance of the niche for lympho-hematopoiesis. In addition, there are numerous empty HSC niches available for engraftment and proliferation of HSCs in bone marrow, supporting the idea that CAR cells with long processes function as niches for lympho-hematopoiesis.
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| Free Research Field |
免疫学、血液学、幹細胞生物学
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