Specialized blood vessels and nitric oxide found to be key to stem cell survival and immune evidence

Specialized blood vessels and nitric oxide found to be key to stem cell survival and immune evidence


The bone marrow niche formed by CD200-positive vessels orchestrate stem-call hierchy and immune tolerance. Credit: Keiko Itano

An International Group of Researchers has identified an important mechanism that enables stem cells to evade immune rejection. Their research, Published in NatureSheds light on how these specialized cells create an “Immune-Privileged” Environment-Areas in the Body Where Stem Cells Survive and Function obtained attacked attacre The team was life by kazuhiro furuhashi (Nagoya University and Columbia University) and Joji Fujisaki (Harvard University and Columbia University).

Stem cells are special cells in the body that can divide and turn into different types of cells. This functionality allows them to play roles in the growth, healing, and development of tissues and organs.

Stem Cells in Immune-Privileged Sites in the Body Use Multiple Mechanisms to Inhibit or Prevent Immune Responses Against Them. This protection is Necessary because If the Immune System Recognizes Them as Foreign, It may Attack Them -A Common Occurrence in Autoimmune Diseases.

The Researchers focused on Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), which generate blood cells and are often used by clinicians to Treat leukemia and inherited Blood disorders. Being altar to transfer these cells without triggering the patient’s immune response or requiring large amounts of immune-supppressing medicine would be a valuable Way to increase their freightness.

Scientists have long proposed a hierrachy in hscs that is related to their survivability. At the top of the hierrachy are specialized stem cells that Produce Nitric Oxide (No), which they use to manipulate the immune response to ensure safe reproduction.

Specialized blood vessels and nitric oxide found to be key to stem cell survival and immune evidence

CD200Hi Capillaries preferentily Localize at the metaphyseal endosteum. Credit: Nature (2025). Doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08352-6

The Researchers Identified A Unique Subset of HSCs that Express High Levels of No (Termed “No.hi Hscs “) and discovered these cells also contain high levels of the immunomodulatory receptor CD200R – A Protein that plays a Critical Role in Immune Suppression and Tolerance.

They also identified that survival of these nohi HSCs Depended on their location Near Specialized Blood Vessels that have a distinctive hairpin-curve shape. The scientists concluded that the curved nature of these capillaries affects blard flow dynamics, Creating Increased Shear Stress -the force of Blood Moving Along Vessel Walls. Shear Stress Regulates The Behavior of Stem Cells By Increasing No Levels, which plays an important role in the maintenance, survival, and function of stem cells by modulant signaling pathways.

Combining Shear Stress and Higher No Levels in these specialized capillarys creates an optimal microenvirment. These findings may explain how nohi HSCS can survive and proliferate while evading immune detection.

Beyond Providing Insights Into Stem Cell Survival, these findings Reshape our understanding of blood vessels. They review that blood vessels function as gatekeepers, regulating stem cell activity and immune responses within surrounding tissues – a Role that Extends far beyond Simply Transporting Blood.

This research should be pave the way for advances in Regenative Medicine and Immunotherapy, highlighting the critical role of blood vessels in maintenance stem cell function and immune Balance.

“Understanding How Shear Stress and Immune Regulatory Molecules Influence Stem Cells Cold Inform The Development of New Immunosuppressive and Anti-Einflammatory Treatments,” Furuhuhashi SAID. “In addition, these findings may revolutionize cancer treatment, as similar mechanisms involving CD200 has been identified in tumor-hasociated blood vessels, potential Leading to Targeted Cancer Therapie.”

More information:
Kazuhiro furuhashi et al, bone marrow niches orchestrate stem-call hierchy and immune tolerance, Nature (2025). Doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08352-6

Provided by Nagoya University


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