Acquired hematopoietic stem-cell disorders and mammalian size

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2007

Authors

Joao V Lopes (Author) Other; Jorge M Pacheco (Author) Other; David Dingli (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Blood

Vol. 110

Pages: 4120-4122

ISSN: 0006-4971

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 17 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-5W0

DOI: 10.1182/blood-2007-05-089805

Abstract (EN): Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can both self renew and differentiate into precursors of all types of blood cells. HSCs are divided into an active pool and a quiescent reserve. Cells selected for the active pool contribute to hematopoiesis for many years. Mutations in HSCs can lead to neoplasms such as chronic myeloid leukemia, although the risk of neoplastic HSC disorders varies across mammals. We use allometric scaling relations combined with mutation-selection evolutionary dynamics to determine which mammalian species is most resistant to HSC disorders. We find that the advantage of large mammals at escaping the selective pressure of cancer cells is insufficient to overcome the increased risk of acquiring mutations. Hence, mutation dominates, which favors smaller stem-cell pools and, consequently, smaller mammals, since these minimize the development of mutations in the active stem-cell pool. Consequently, the smaller the active stem-cell pools, the better.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 3