Role of cell-extrinsic HO-1 in aging of hematopoietic stem cells

We investigated how lack of HO-1 affects function and aging of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). We analyzed transcriptome of young and old HSCs from HO-1 KO mice and compared them to young and old WT HSC, and HSC from WT mice that were bled. We also profiled transcriptome of endothelial cells and mesenchymal cells from bone marrow from HO-1 KO mice. Using genetic and functional assays we showed that heme oxygenase-1 deficiency triggers premature exhaustion of hematopoietic stem cells in cell-extrinsic manner.