Targeting BIRC6 rejuvenates hematopoietic stem cell aging and immunosenescence

Immunosenescence represents a central hallmark of organismal aging, characterized by a progressive decline in immune function, which compromises host defense and accelerates systemic aging. Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) aging is a key contributor to this process, characterized by aberrant expansion, myeloid-biased differentiation, and impaired self-renewal, culminating in hematopoietic-immune imbalance. Although the expansion and survival advantages of aged HSCs have been well-demonstrated, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we reveal that regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment actively safeguard the survival of aged HSCs via a previously uncharacterized signaling pathway. We identify a novel aged HSC subpopulation characterized by high expression of Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 6 (BIRC6), an apoptosis inhibitor. This BIRC6-high subpopulation is markedly expanded in aged mice and recapitulates the hallmarks of HSC aging. Mechanistically, cAMP derived from BM Tregs activates the PKA-CREB pathway in HSCs, activating Birc6 transcription, which reduces apoptotic priming in aged HSCs, thereby promoting hematopoietic-immune imbalance. Strikingly, targeted BIRC6 inhibition in HSCs using antibody-conjugated lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated antisense oligonucleotides (LNP-ASOs) significantly reverses hematopoietic-immune aging phenotypes and ameliorates age-associated immune dysfunction in middle-aged mice. LNP-ASO treatment dramatically rebalances immune cell production, reduces immunosenescence markers, and enhances vaccine responses in middle-aged mice. More importantly, this strategy was also effective in HSCs from middle-aged human donors, highlighting its potential for clinical translation. These findings elucidate a key microenvironmental pathway (Treg-cAMP-PKA-CREB-BIRC6) driving HSC aging and offer a novel strategy to ameliorate the aged hematopoietic system and combat age-related immune decline.