The influence of inflammation on HSC and immune cell function

We address the question how inflammation impacts on hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and immune cell function using various inflammatory mouse models such as infection, autoimmunity, allergy etc. Our previous findings that HSC can adapt hematopoietic program to be resistant to infection, tissue damage via innate immune signals suggest potential linkages between inflammation and hematopoietic alterations such as clonal hematopoiesis and hematologic disorders.

Aging effects on HSC cell fate decision and its microenvironment

Aging of hematopoietic system involves thymic involution, memory B/T cell expansion, enhanced myelopoiesis and HSC changes, all together increasing risk of inflammatory diseases and cancer in many organs. Thus, understanding of cell intrinsic (HSC) and extrinsic (niche) signals will help to develop a new measure to prevent/treat aging-associated diseases.

Human HSC and its niche biology using next generation humanized mice

A developmental tissue engineering approach has allowed us to create human bone organs from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells, that can maintain functional HSCs. Through genetic manipulation, we study the cellular and molecular components of the human BM niche for understanding disease and preclinically testing new therapies.