Research:
DNA Damage Response Mechanisms in Human Hematopoiesis

Life-long blood regeneration is critically dependent on self-renewing multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These cells’ nearly unlimited self-renewal potential and lifetime persistence in the body, in contrast to the committed progenitors (CPs), signifies the need for tight control of HSC genome integrity. Indeed, accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage in HSCs is associated with bone marrow (BM) failure and accelerated leukemogenesis. Recent findings from our and other laboratories have revealed striking differences in DNA-damage response (DDR) characteristics between HSCs and CPs, especially in their DNA-repair activities and propensity for apoptosis. However, the molecular basis and physiological significance of the HSC-specific DDR characteristics are only partially understood.

In our experiments we utilize novel cell-purification strategies, powerful loss- and gain-of-function genetic manipulations and the most sensitive in-vivo xenotransplantation assays for human hematopoiesis.

In our laboratory we pursue the following projects to address the molecular basis underlying HSC-specific responses to DNA damage:

DDR characterization in human HSCs isolated at different ontogenic stages.
Examination of DNA double strand break repair pathways in human HSCs.
Identification and characterization of molecular mechanisms connecting the DDR with self-renewal pathway in human HSCs.
Construction of gene regulatory networks responsible for the acquisition of a DNA-­damage-tolerant state in human leukemia stem cells.

Contact:

Email: mmilyavsky@tauex.tau.ac.il