CD38 regulates HSCs activation and Aging

July 23rd, 2024

The Chen lab at UC Berkeley discovered that CD38 functions as a NAD-dependent metabolic checkpoint, which regulates Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) activation and aging. HSCs, being a rare cell type of particular interest in leukemia therapy, play a crucial role in hematopoietic homeostasis. The current detailed study of HSC metabolism provides new insights into the regulation of these cells and their possible transformation into leukemia. Such knowledge is anticipated to enhance clinical applications, including ex vivo enrichment, expansion for transplantation purposes, and/or antibody treatments. This discovery has been published in Nature Aging in collaboration with CRL/FACS Facility team members, Anita Wong and Dr. Kartoosh Heydari.