When patients receive bone marrow transplants, they are infused with not only stem cells, but also complex mixtures of many other cell types that regenerate their blood and immune systems. Now in a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at USC Stem Cell’s Rong Lu Lab have discovered that including multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs) in the infusion increases T-cell production. And T-cells play a key role in preventing life-threatening infections in transplant recipients.

The new development will make a major difference in the survival rates of bone marrow recipients, who receive the transplants to treat or cure life-threatening diseases such as  immune system disorders, sickle cell disease and certain cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myelofibrosis.

The study was published in Experimental & Molecular Medicine.

To read the full story, click here.