B5: The effect of IFN signaling on hematopoietic stem cells

 

Marieke Essers

 

The life long maintenance of blood is dependent on dormant hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In our search for cytokines that can influence this dormant stage of HSCs we have recently identified the cytokine IFN as a potent activator of dormant HSCs in vivo (1). In this project we aim to identify the mechanism by which IFN can activate these stem cells as well as the role of the bone marrow stem cell niche in this process. Since IFN cytokines are produced by cells of the immune system in response to challenges such as viruses, we will also examine the IFN production in the bone marrow in response to stress and the consequences for the HSCs during bone marrow challenges.