Fate of fats and stem cells — Dr. Keisuke Ito has received $1.6 million from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease to study the role of lipid metabolism in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs have the potential to become all types of blood cells and are therefore important in maintaining the blood cell population throughout the lifespan of an organism. Understanding the mechanisms that determine the fate of HSCs will allow investigators to harness the potential of stem cells for clinical applications. The researchers will investigate how a key gene involved in lipid metabolism, PPARdelta, determines the fate and maintenance of this stem cell population, with a goal of identifying therapeutic approaches for manipulating the function of HSCs and clinical potential for enhancing and extending the health and well-being of patients. Dr. Ito is assistant professor of medicine and of cell biology, and director of Scientific Resources of the Stem Cell Institute.
Posted on: Thursday, April 18, 2013