Blood stem cells play a vital role in producing blood and immune cells and are widely used in bone marrow transplants and gene therapies. However, laboratory processing can reduce their regenerative potential and affect treatment outcomes.

Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) investigated activated protein C (aPC) as a way to preserve stem cell function. They found that a brief, one-hour treatment helped keep the cells in a protected, resting state, reducing premature differentiation and maintaining their essential stem cell characteristics.

In experiments involving mice, aPC-treated human blood stem cells produced more blood cells and maintained blood formation more effectively, even after repeated transplantation. The treatment also helped protect the cells from inflammatory signals that could interfere with their function.

These findings suggest that aPC signaling could offer a promising approach to improving stem cell transplantation and gene therapies for blood disorders. By preserving the regenerative capacity of stem cells during laboratory processing, this strategy may help improve treatment effectiveness and long-term outcomes for patients. Further research is needed to determine its safety and benefits in clinical applications.

Source: https://www.news.uzh.ch/en/articles/media/2026/Blood-stem-cells.html