Improving bone marrow stem cells performance
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation to improve bone marrow stem cells performance
IRAS ID
142163
Contact name
Ilaria Bellantuono
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) contain osteoprogenitor cells capable of differentiating into osteoblasts, which are a critical component in new bone formation and in the survival, proliferation and differentiation of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Therefore, increased MSC numbers are thought to improve the repair of bone defects. In addition they could be used to improve efficiency of engraftment in HSC transplantation or to support HSC function in vivo. In our previous work we have shown that cellular ageing occur in MSC with age of the donor and expansion in culture. This results in decreased ability of MSC to proliferate and differentiate to osteoblasts and is thought to be one of the factors limiting the successful use of MSC in the treatment of bone and blood disorders. Indeed, for example, we have shown that prevention of cellular ageing in MSC significantly improves MSC engraftment. There are a number of questions which remain unanswered. Can we identify drugs which delay or prevent cellular ageing in MSC? Is this improving the function of MSC in bone repair or blood development? The primary aim of the present study is to determine (a) whether we can identify molecules able to delay mesenchymal stem cell ageing using a variety of screening systems; (b) whether diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and myelodysplastic syndromes shows signs of accelerated ageing in MSC and (c) whether interventions which delay MSC ageing improves their function and are good therapeutic options for disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and myelodysplastic syndromes. It is anticipated that these studies will lead to improved understanding of MSC ageing, homing and survival and allow us to develop strategies to use MSC in the correction of skeletal disorders, to improve HSC performance in vivo and to boost engraftment following transplantation.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0419
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion