Human Haematopoietic Stem Cell
Previous and current research
The focus of our research is to characterise the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control human haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and how changes in this program may initiate leukaemia. Progress to address these major questions in the human haematopoietic system has been hampered, until recently, by the lack of in vivo assays for normal and leukaemic stem cells. The development of xenotransplantation model in immunodeficient mice allowed the analysis of both normal and leukaemic initiated cells' development in vivo.
We have recently shown that normal stem cells expressed myeloid markers (like CD33, CD13 and CD123) and that these same markers are also present in leukaemic stem cells. These results might have impact in targeted therapy but also indicate that normal and leukaemic stem cell share similar surface markers.
Future projects
We will emphasise our work to:
- Compare the gene profile of normal and leukaemic stem cells in order to identify potential genes implicated in the leukaemogenesis.
- Evaluate the role of certain fusion molecules associated with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in the leukaemogenic process.
- Examine the role of the stem cell niche in both the normal and leukaemic development.
- Study the interaction between normal and leukaemic stem cells.
- Define the relationship between normal CD34- and CD34+ HSC.
- Determine the nature of the cell target during leukaemic transformation.
