Stem cells, that develop into blood cells, age differently in individual mice, a US study has found, providing new insights into how this may influence health.

Hematopoietic stem cells have the ability to develop into a variety of blood and bone marrow cells. As with all cells, they become less functional as they age, which can lead to the development of diseases like blood cancer.

Research led by The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) – which has recently joined EARA as a member – studied genetically identical, middle-aged mice to understand how hematopoietic stem cells change with age.

The team found that the cells aged differently, despite the mice being the same age, and also that how well the cells functioned could be predicted using two molecules called growth factors, also found in humans.

When the amount of these growth factors decreased, this was linked to a decline in the function of the hematopoietic stem cells. There was also more variation in these stem cells than other stem cells found in the bone marrow, which, according to the researchers, are likely to play a role in a wide range of health outcomes in both mice and humans.

Jennifer Trowbridge, at JAX, said: “This is really a snapshot of the aging process at work, at the cellular level.”