Loss of epigenetic polarity is a hallmark of hematopoietic stem cell aging

Eva Mejia-Ramirez; Hartmut Geiger; M Carolina Florian

doi:10.1093/hmg/ddaa189

Loss of epigenetic polarity is a hallmark of hematopoietic stem cell aging

Hum Mol Genet. 2020 Oct 20;29(R2):R248-R254. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa189.

Authors

Eva Mejia-Ramirez¹, Hartmut Geiger², M Carolina Florian^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Program of Regenerative Medicine, IDIBELL and Program for Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine in Catalonia (P-CMRC), Av. Granvia 199, 08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
² Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Ulm, James-Franck-Ring 11c, 89081, Ulm, Germany.

PMID: 32821941
DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa189

Abstract

Changes of polarity in somatic stem cells upon aging or disease lead to a functional deterioration of stem cells and consequently loss of tissue homeostasis, likely due to changes in the mode (symmetry versus asymmetry) of stem cell divisions. Changes in polarity of epigenetic markers (or 'epi-polarity') in stem cells, which are linked to alterations in chromatin architecture, might explain how a decline in the frequency of epipolar stem cells can have a long-lasting impact on the function of especially aging stem cells. The drift in epipolarity might represent a novel therapeutic target to improve stem cell function upon aging or disease. Here we review basic biological principles of epigenetic polarity, with a special focus on epipolarity and aging of hematopoietic stem cells.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Aging*
Cell Polarity*
Chromatin / genetics*
DNA Methylation*
Epigenesis, Genetic*
Hematopoietic Stem Cells / pathology*
Homeostasis*
Humans

Substances

Chromatin