How aging bone-forming cells may help abnormal blood cell clones grow
Epigenetic deregulation of osteoblasts promotes age related clonality in hematopoietic cells
This project looks at whether age-related changes in bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) help blood stem cells with IDH1/2 mutations expand and increase the risk of MDS or AML.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11370247 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare bone marrow samples from people with and without IDH1/2 mutations to measure levels of the oncometabolite 2‑hydroxyglutarate (2HG) and epigenetic changes in osteoblasts and the marrow stroma. In laboratory cell and animal models they will test how aged or 2HG-exposed osteoblasts influence clonal growth of blood stem cells. The team will also try reversing stromal epigenetic changes to see if that limits clonal expansion and progression toward MDS/AML. The work combines patient samples, molecular profiling, and experimental models to link the aging bone marrow environment to leukemia risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be older adults with known IDH1 or IDH2 mutations, people with detected clonal hematopoiesis, or patients with MDS/AML willing to provide bone marrow or marrow plasma samples.
Not a fit: Patients whose blood disorders are driven by unrelated mutations or who already have advanced, treatment-resistant disease may not benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or slow progression from age-related clonal hematopoiesis to MDS or AML by targeting the bone marrow environment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown that IDH mutations raise 2HG and change epigenetics and that the marrow niche can affect leukemia, but using osteoblast epigenetic changes as a target to block clonal growth is a newer approach with limited clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kousteni, Stavroula — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kousteni, Stavroula
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.