{"id":3657,"date":"2024-08-19T20:09:27","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T20:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=3657"},"modified":"2024-10-16T21:23:19","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T21:23:19","slug":"ucla-scientists-discover-key-protein-to-unlock-blood-stem-cell-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/ucla-scientists-discover-key-protein-to-unlock-blood-stem-cell-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"UCLA Scientists Discover Key Protein to Unlock Blood Stem Cell Potential"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">UCLA scientists have discovered a protein crucial for blood stem cell self-renewal, potentially transforming the availability and safety of stem cell transplants and gene therapies.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a groundbreaking study <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-024-07478-x\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in Nature, scientists from UCLA have uncovered a crucial protein, MYCT1, that could revolutionize blood stem cell transplants and gene therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UCLA researchers have identified MYCT1&#8217;s essential role in regulating blood stem cell self-renewal, marking an advancement decades in the making. MYCT1 enables stem cells to sense and respond to their environment, a process critical for their longevity and effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019ve figured out how to produce cells that look just like blood stem cells and have all of their hallmarks, but when these cells are used in transplants, many of them still don\u2019t work; there\u2019s something missing,\u201d Hanna Mikkola, senior author of the study and a member of UCLA&#8217;s Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.ucla.edu\/releases\/scientists-identify-missing-piece-blood-stem-cell-self-renew-lab-dish\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blood stem cells, or hematopoietic stem cells, possess the unique ability to self-renew and produce all blood and immune cells in the body. For years, their transplants have offered lifesaving treatments for blood cancers like leukemia and various immune disorders. However, these treatments face limitations \u2014 finding compatible donors and maintaining stem cell potency outside the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers attribute these hurdles to the difficulty in sustaining stem cell self-renewal in lab conditions. When blood stem cells are cultured, they quickly lose their regenerative capabilities. To pinpoint the cause, the study&#8217;s first author, Julia Aguade Gorgorio, analyzed gene sequences silenced during culture, identifying MYCT1 as a key player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen cells perceive a signal, they have to internalize it and process it; MYCT1 controls how fast and how efficiently blood stem cells perceive these signals,\u201d Aguade Gorgorio, an assistant project scientist in the Mikkola lab, said in the news release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without MYCT1, the signals necessary for self-renewal become overwhelming, leading to stress and dysfunction in the cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team likens MYCT1 to the advanced sensors found in modern vehicles, which selectively alert drivers to critical information. Without these sensors, drivers might become overwhelmed and disoriented \u2014 much like how stem cells react without MYCT1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Introducing MYCT1 back into stem cells using a viral vector, researchers observed restored self-renewal capabilities in cultured blood stem cells. These rejuvenated cells successfully functioned when transplanted into mouse models, demonstrating potential for human application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf we can find a way to maintain MYCT1 expression in blood stem cells in culture and after transplant, it will open the door to maximize all these other remarkable advances in the field,\u201d added Mikkola, also a professor at UCLA&#8217;s College and a member of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This discovery could not only enhance the efficiency of blood stem cell transplants but also significantly improve the safety and accessibility of gene therapy treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Future research will focus on understanding why MYCT1 is silenced and developing methods to maintain its expression in blood stem cells without relying on viral vectors. This approach promises to amplify the impact of existing scientific advancements and make treatments more feasible and affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This pioneering work received support from various national and international foundations, including the National Institutes of Health, the European Molecular Biology Organization and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The research signifies a pivotal step towards transforming the landscape of stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine, offering new hope for those afflicted by severe blood and immune disorders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, scientists from UCLA have uncovered a crucial protein, MYCT1, that could revolutionize blood stem cell transplants and gene therapies. UCLA researchers have identified MYCT1&#8217;s essential role in regulating blood stem cell self-renewal, marking an advancement decades in the making. MYCT1 enables stem cells to sense and respond to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, scientists from UCLA have uncovered a crucial protein, MYCT1, that could revolutionize blood stem cell transplants and gene therapies. UCLA researchers have identified MYCT1&#8217;s essential role in regulating blood stem cell self-renewal, marking an advancement decades in the making. MYCT1 enables stem cells to sense and respond to&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3657"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3851,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3657\/revisions\/3851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}