BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis was viewed as a reversible process. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a key event in the process of liver fibrosis. The induction of senescence of HSCs would accelerate the clearance of the activated HSCs. Previously, we demonstrated that soluble egg antigens (SEA) of Schistosoma japonicum promoted the senescence of HSCs via STAT3/P53/P21 pathway. In t...

Recent findings Aged HSCs are myeloid biased, have acquired DNA damage and are functionally compromised. However, overall function of the HSC compartment is well maintained through age-associated expansion of HSCs. Many age-related changes in the hematopoietic system, in particular the clonal myeloid bias of HSCs and the decrease in B and T-cell development, in fact begin during development. Fu...

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are both adult stem cells residing in the bone marrow. MSCs interact with HSCs, they stimulate and enhance the proliferation of HSCs by secreting regulatory molecules and cytokines, providing a specialized microenvironment for controlling the process of hematopoiesis. In this paper we discuss how MSCs contribute to HSC niche, mai...

A previous study has demonstrated that Ganshuang granule (GSG) plays an anti-fibrotic role partially by deactivation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In HSCs activation, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-autophagy plays an important role. We attempted to investigate the role of mTOR-autophagy in anti-fibrotic effect of GSG. The cirrhotic mouse model was prepared to demonstrate the anti-fibr...

One of the central tasks of stem cell biology is to understand the molecular mechanisms that control self-renewal in stem cells. Several cytokines are implicated as crucial regulators of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but little is known about intracellular signaling for HSC self-renewal. To address this issue, we attempted to clarify how self-renewal potential is enhanced in HSCs without the...

introduction: accumulating evidences indicated that during increasing of the animals' age, the number and the functional properties of hematopoietic stem cells (hscs) become altered because of a gradual decrease in replication potential.  the efficient factors in this process are dna damaging, reduced telomerase activity, shortening of telomeres and oxidative stresses. for overcoming these fact...

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are clonogenic cells capable of both selfrenewal and multilineage differentiation. An efficient method for gene transfer into HSCs is required for exploring HSC biology as well as for gene therapy of hematopoietic disorders. Retroviral vectors have been the most widely used vectors for gene transfer to HSCs. However, retroviral vectors require cell division for i...

Accumulating data reveal that garlic has beneficial effects against chronic liver disease. We previously reported that diallyl trisulfide (DATS), the primary organosulfur compound in garlic, reduced fibrosis and attenuated oxidative stress in rat fibrotic liver. The present study was aimed at elucidating the underlying mechanisms. The primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were cultured and ...

Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) are cells that have the ability to self-renewal and differentiate into all of hematopoietic lineages. The lack of donors and unavailable efficient protocols for ex vivo expansion of HSCs, are obstacles in successful cell therapies. MicroRNAs (also refer as miRNAs or miRs) have significant roles in hematopoiesis; they can effect on HSCs expansion, maintaining undi...

GATA-2 is an essential transcription factor in the hematopoietic system that is expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors. Complete deficiency of GATA-2 in the mouse leads to severe anemia and embryonic lethality. The role of GATA-2 and dosage effects of this transcription factor in HSC development within the embryo and adult are largely unexplored. Here we examined the effec...