Unraveling bone marrow erythropoiesis niche

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K15359
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hematology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Chiba Shigeru 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (60212049)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OBARA Naoshi 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (70422178)
• Research Collaborator: NISHIKII Hidekazu ; SAKAMOTO Tatsuhiro ; Luan Cao Sy
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 骨髄ストローマ / 赤芽球 / nestin / NOTCH / Rbpj

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cells that help blood production in the bone marrow were analyzed using genetically modified mice. It was demonstrated that erythrocyte production in the bone marrow is impaired if a specific signaling (NOTCH signaling) system is turned off in "nestin-expressing cells," one type of non-blood producing cells that are present in the bone marrow at a very low frequency. The mechanism for this observation was analyzed as follows: the abnormality in nestin-expressing bone marrow non-blood producing cells disturbs local environment and increases the secretion of a substance called interleukin 6 from "macrophages," which directly support erythrocyte production in the bone marrow. This causes adverse effect on erythropoietic production.

Free Research Field

血液内科学