Heterogeneity of high-potency multilineage hematopoietic stem cells and identification of “Super” transplantability

F Fang Dong S Sen Zhang C Caiying Zhu (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) Z Zining Yang (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) L Lisha Wang (Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan) Y Yao Ma (Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China) J Jiayi Lu (Materials Genome Institute) X Xialin Li (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) X Xiaofang Wang N Nini Wang S Shanshan Zhang M Miner Xie (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) J Jinhong Wang (Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge) X Xiaobing Zhang Y Yawei Zheng (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) S Shihui Ma (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) H Hideo Ema (1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) H Hui Cheng S Sha Hao (1National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) T Toshio Suda Y Yu Lan B Bing Liu P Ping Zhu J Junren Chen T Tao Cheng (Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies)

Abstract

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are heterogeneous, and the quality of HSCs—that is, transplantability—is a key determinant for posttransplant hematopoietic reconstitution. However, molecular modalities of high-potency HSCs with superior transplantability still remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted large-scale single-clone serial-transplant experiments and tracked descendant cells of 288 HSC clones to quantify their intrinsic capability for hematopoietic reconstitution. Using integrated single-cell transcriptional, immunophenotypical, and Bayesian dynamic analyses, we uncovered 3 classes of HSC clones (“Super,” “Flash,” and “Trickle”) that had higher output in the first generation but exhibited markedly different behavior in later generations. The Super-class HSC clones comprised 4% of the HSCs and manifested persistent superior transplantability and balanced myeloid/lymphoid–lineage outputs across generations in serial transplants. The Super-class HSCs had a unique molecular signature, including low expression of CD27, that was distinct from previously known classical HSC signatures. Validation experiments indicated that CD27– HSCs had superior transplantability compared with CD27+ HSCs. Our study asserted an operational definition for Super transplantability of HSCs, defined its molecular program, and suggested new directions for enriching high-potency HSCs in grafts.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 146, Issue 5
Published July 31, 2025
Pages 546-557
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (25)

F

Fang Dong

S

Sen Zhang

C

Caiying Zhu

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

Z

Zining Yang

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

L

Lisha Wang

Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan

Y

Yao Ma

Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China

J

Jiayi Lu

Materials Genome Institute

X

Xialin Li

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

X

Xiaofang Wang

N

Nini Wang

S

Shanshan Zhang

M

Miner Xie

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

J

Jinhong Wang

Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge

X

Xiaobing Zhang

Y

Yawei Zheng

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

S

Shihui Ma

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

H

Hideo Ema

1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

H

Hui Cheng

S

Sha Hao

1National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

T

Toshio Suda

Y

Yu Lan

B

Bing Liu

P

Ping Zhu

J

Junren Chen

T

Tao Cheng

Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies