Ceramide blockade in murine hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) rely upon cellular crosstalk, including extracellular vesicles (EVs) for lifelong niche occupancy and cellular function. Vesicle secretion is tightly linked to intracellular homeostasis; however, these mechanisms are poorly understood in HSPCs, particularly at the single-cell level. In this study, we target ceramide-dependent EV secretion by pharmacologic blockade in ex vivo expanded HSPCs. We use these cells to investigate single-cell resolution of short-term and delayed transcriptional changes induced by ceramide-EV inhibition. Single cell RNA sequencing of primary murine HSPCs grown in PVA-supported ex vivo expansion cultures at 24 and 120 hours following GW4869 treatment.