Simultaneous analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell ATAC sequencing to elucidate hematopoietic stem cell aging

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19514
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 54:Internal medicine of the bio-information integration and related fields
• Research Institution: Jichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Matsumura Takayoshi 自治医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (80436485)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 造血幹細胞 / 老化 / シングルセル解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are the source of all blood cells. Aging of HSCs is a risk factor not only for cancer but also for heart and blood vessel diseases. To understand the whole picture of the HSC aging, it is essential to analyze HSCs focusing on their difference among each HSCs.
In this study, we utilized a new method of simultaneous barcoding of DNA and RNA of single cells, and successfully identified genetic and epigenomic changes that characterize aging HSCs by comparing HSCs obtained from young mice and old mice. Further, we succeeded in identifying a subset of aging HSCs with relatively preserved function.

Free Research Field

循環器内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、造血幹細胞の老化がどのようにその機能不全をきたしていくのかを包括的にとらえ、新たな知見を得ることを目的としました。我々は、将来的に老化細胞を再度“若返らせる”ための新たな方法、新規化合物を発見するための序章として本研究を位置づけています。さらに長期的には、造血幹細胞の老化を解明する過程で得られた知見は、骨髄以外の各種組織の幹細胞の老化研究に応用可能であると考えています。血液疾患に限らず各種臓器の疾患で、老化関連疾患に罹患する可能性の高い個人を特定する個別化最適医療への応用も考えられます。