A Notch <i>trans-</i> activation to <i>cis</i> -inhibition switch underlies hematopoietic stem cell aging

F Francesca Matteini (1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain) R Roshana Thambyrajah (3Cancer Research Program, Institut Municipal d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain) S Sara Montserrat-Vazquez S Sascha Jung (6Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences–Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain) A Alba Ferrer-Perez (1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain) P Patricia Herrero Molinero (3Cancer Research Program, Institut Municipal d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain) D Dina El Jaramany (1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain) J Javier Lozano-Bartolomé (1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain) E Eva Mejia-Ramirez (1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain) J Jessica González A Antonio Del Sol A Anna Bigas M Maria Carolina Florian (1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Abstract Aged hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) expand in clusters over time, while reducing their regenerative capacity and their ability to preserve the homeostasis of the hematopoietic system. The expression of Notch ligands in the bone marrow (BM) niche is essential for hematopoiesis. However, the impact of Notch signaling on adult HSC function and its involvement in HSC aging remains controversial. Here, we show that Notch activation in young HSCs is not homogeneous, and it is triggered by sinusoidal expression of the Notch ligand Jagged2 (Jag2). Sinusoidal Jag2 deletion in young mice recapitulates the decrease in Notch activity observed in aged HSCs and alters HSC divisional symmetry and fate priming, promoting myeloid-biased HSCs (My-HSCs) expansion. Mechanistically, our data reveals that upon decreasing sinusoidal Jag2 expression, HSCs themselves upregulate Jag2, which cis-inhibits Notch signaling, resulting in the expansion of My-HSCs and in reduced hematopoietic regeneration. Collectively, these findings identify the crosstalk between BM niche-driven and HSC intrinsic features in regulating HSC fate priming and regenerative potential and reveal an extrinsic Notch trans-activation to intrinsic cis-inhibition switch underlying HSC aging.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 147, Issue 2
Published January 08, 2026
Pages 164-179
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (13)

F

Francesca Matteini

1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

R

Roshana Thambyrajah

3Cancer Research Program, Institut Municipal d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

S

Sara Montserrat-Vazquez

S

Sascha Jung

6Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences–Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain

A

Alba Ferrer-Perez

1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

P

Patricia Herrero Molinero

3Cancer Research Program, Institut Municipal d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

D

Dina El Jaramany

1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

J

Javier Lozano-Bartolomé

1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

E

Eva Mejia-Ramirez

1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

J

Jessica González

A

Antonio Del Sol

A

Anna Bigas

M

Maria Carolina Florian

1Stem Cell Aging Group, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain