Longevity & AgingiPSC-Derived Blood Stem Cells Achieve Long-Term Engraftment in Mice
Researchers at Murdoch Children's Research Institute have achieved a long-sought goal in regenerative medicine: generating genuine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can durably repopulate the blood system. By guiding iPSCs through HOXA-patterned mesoderm and hemogenic endothelium using a defined protocol with retinyl acetate, BMP4, and VEGF, the team produced CD34+ blood progenitors capable of long-term, multilineage engraftment in immune-deficient mice. Engraftment rates of 25–50% matched those seen with umbilical cord blood transplants. The cells, designated iHSCs, were cryopreservable and reproducible across four independent iPSC lines, marking a significant step toward patient-specific, off-the-shelf blood stem cell therapies.
