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Updated: Jun 8, 2025
Isolation Method for Long-Term and Short-Term Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Published on: May 19, 2023
Candidate stem cell isolation and transplantation in Hexacorallia
Shani Talice1, Itamar Kozlovski2, Shany K Barkan1
1The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; The Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Researchers successfully transplanted stem cells in corals (Hexacorallia), demonstrating their ability to integrate, survive, and rescue damaged tissues. This breakthrough enables functional studies of stem cell biology in corals and sea anemones.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Stem cells are crucial for cell therapy due to self-renewal and differentiation capabilities.
- Stem cell isolation and transplantation are not established in Hexacorallia (stony corals, sea anemones).
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish stem cell transplantation in the hexacorallian Nematostella vectensis.
- To investigate the functional properties of candidate stem cells in Hexacorallia.
Main Methods:
- Transplantation of candidate stem cells into adult Nematostella vectensis.
- Assessment of cell integration, survival, and functional rescue after chemotherapy.
- Enrichment of stem cell subpopulations using species-non-specific cell markers.
- Isolation of similar cell subpopulations from other hexacorallians, including stony corals.
Main Results:
- Transplanted stem cells integrated into recipient tissues and rescued animals from lethal chemotherapy doses.
- These stem cells demonstrated proliferation and survived serial transplantations.
- A method for enriching stem cell populations using non-specific markers was developed.
- Similar stem cell subpopulations were found in other hexacorallians.
Conclusions:
- This study establishes the foundation for functional stem cell biology research in Hexacorallia.
- The findings pave the way for understanding stem cell roles in coral and sea anemone regeneration and therapy.
