Elucidation of the Significance of CD34 Antigen Expression in Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08742
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54010:Hematology and medical oncology-related
• Research Institution: Kansai Medical University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUOKA Yoshikazu 関西医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (70533420)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 造血幹細胞 / CD34抗原

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study analyzed the significance of CD34 antigen expression in human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Specifically, we knocked out the CD34 gene in CD34+ HSCs derived from human umbilical cord blood using CRISPR/Cas9, hereafter referred to as CD34KO HSCs, and evaluated their hematopoietic stem cell activity in both in vitro and in vivo systems. As a result, it became clear that both CD34+ and CD34KO HSCs possess equivalent bone marrow reconstruction and multi-differentiation abilities. From this, it was found that within the experimentally detectable range, the expression of the CD34 antigen does not affect the hematopoietic stem cell activity in human HSCs.

Free Research Field

幹細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在CD34抗原は、ヒト造血幹細胞のマーカーとして広く用いられているが、その機能的意義は明らかになっていない。本研究により、CD34抗原はヒト造血幹細胞に発現していてもしていなくてもその幹細胞としての性質に大きな差はない可能性が示唆された。この知見は、今後の造血幹細胞移植などのドナー選択の基準の策定等への応用が期待される。