Scientists recently identified a gene that controls the production and differentiation of stem cells from which all blood cells arise, a discovery that could improve treatment options for myeloma and other blood cancers.

The study, published on April 7 in the Cancer Cell journal, describes the JunB gene as a control on the processes of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation, or rapid growth, and differentiation into various types of blood cells.

The gene's mechanisms were discovered through an experiment in which JunB-deficient stem cells were transplanted into mice. Engraftment, the acceptance and growth of transplanted cells in a new host, occurred in some of the mice. After six to 12 months, these mice developed myeloproliferative diseases, which can evolve into leukemia. Therefore, this experiement shows the role that JunB-deficient HSCs play in leukemia development.

When the JunB gene is missing, HSCs are unable to receive signals from protein receptors on the cell's surface. These receptors have a role in aspects of cell fate like growth and differentiation.

With this knowledge, scientists may be able to determine differences between normal HSCs and leukemic stem cells, which could lead to the development of more targeted therapies for blood cancers in the future.

The study may directly help myeloma patients through the improvement of stem cell treatments.

As researchers tracked the differences between the JunB-deficient mice and the control group, they realized that the purity of the HSCs determined the success of engraftment. Purification refers to the removal of mature blood cells from the mixture of cells to be transplanted into a patient, leaving just stem cells. This finding could be applied to patients who are undergoing bone marrow transplants, including those with multiple myeloma.

For more information, visit the Cancer Cell journal article and the University of California, San Francisco press release.