Impact

The ability to generate B cells in vitro will allow us to study how B cell develops and the molecular mechanism behind various B cell-related diseases such as autoimmune disorders, immunodeficiencies, and blood cancer. For instance, we will be able to model acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of cancer in children, that usually affects both B and T cells. In addition, in vitro generation of B cells offers an attractive opportunity for cell-based therapy.

reNEW research

Immature B cells expressing CD19 and CD10 are able to be generated in vitro from hiPSCs-derived hemataopoietic stem cells. The next step is to further mature these cells to become antibody-secreting cells.

Image description

hiPSCs-derived blood stem cells in red giving rise to B cell progenitors in green. The red blood stem cells co-localized with green B cell progenitors which become yellow cells.

Credits

Oniko Liani, Blood Development Group, Andrew Elefanty’s laboratory, reNEW Melbourne Node