In a new study, researchers from France, Germany, and Israel discovered a surprising property of hematopoietic stem cells: They not only ensure the continuous renewal of blood cells, but also remember the previous infection experience, which will trigger it in the future Faster and more effective immune response. These findings should have a major impact on future vaccination strategies and pave the way for the development of new therapies for underperforming or overreacting immune systems. Related research results were recently published in the Cell Stem Cell journal.
Stem cells in our body act as cell reservoirs: they divide to produce new stem cells and various types of specialized cells needed to ensure tissue renewal and function. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), commonly called blood stem cells, are located in the bone marrow-the soft tissue located in the center of large bones such as the hips or thighs. Their role is to renew the blood cell pool, including immune cells that are vital to fight infection and other diseases.