How cells' protein quality control keeps blood-forming stem cells healthy
Mechanism and Function of Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein Quality Control Machinery In The Maintenance of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
This work looks at how a cell system called ER-associated degradation (ERAD) protects blood-forming stem cells, which could matter for people needing bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy or transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11199055 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies how the cells that make your blood keep their proteins healthy using a system called ERAD and a key protein named Sel1L. In laboratory mice and cell experiments, researchers remove Sel1L from blood-forming cells and measure stem cell numbers, whether the cells stay dormant or start dividing, and how well they recover after stresses like chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant tests. Techniques include cell biology assays, mouse transplantation experiments, and treatments such as 5-fluorouracil to mimic stress. Understanding these basic mechanisms could point to ways to protect or restore blood stem cells for patients in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is a preclinical laboratory and animal-focused project and does not currently enroll patient participants.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments are unlikely to benefit directly because the work is basic research in cells and animal models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to strategies to protect or restore blood-forming stem cells during chemotherapy or around bone marrow transplantation.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have implicated ERAD components in stem cell maintenance, but applying this knowledge toward patient therapies remains early and novel.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Xi — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Chen, Xi
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.