JERUSALEM, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have found a way to improve the quality of stem cells taken from bone marrow donors, which could help patients with serious diseases such as blood cancer and immune disorders, Ben Gurion University of the Negev said in a statement on Monday.
Most stem cells are dormant and do not divide in the healthy state. An acute infection activates stem cells and pushes them to divide to help supply the needed immune cells. Scientists have not figured out how a chronic infection affects the stem cells.
The study, published in Cell Reports, examined how long-term infection affects stem cells in the bone marrow.
The researchers used a mouse model of chronic Salmonella infection to understand what happens to these important cells during ongoing illness. They found that chronic infection pushes stem cells out of their normal resting state and impairs their function. This weakens the cells and may reduce the success of bone marrow transplants.
The team also found that treating the infection with antibiotics in mice restored the stem cells to a healthier state within about two weeks. After treatment, the cells behaved more like those in healthy animals, and their function improved.
The findings suggest that the health and infection status of bone marrow donors may be important when evaluating stem cell quality.
They also indicate that treating the donor's infections before collecting cells could improve the chances of successful transplantation and help more patients benefit from this life-saving treatment. ■
