Role of hibernation-like states on hematopoietic stem cell function

Active Project Grant Awarded Last action

Award ID
F31HL184753
Recipient
Awarding agency
Obligated
$50,114

Award facts

Assistance listing
93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research
Completion date 0% complete
Place of performance
Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Award details come from USAspending.gov.

Description

As the agency reported it.

Abstract
Endotherms, or warm-blooded animals, are characterized by their ability to maintain a core body temperature of 37°C. However, in response to harsh environmental conditions (i.e., extreme temperatures or food scarcity), some animals undergo dormancy to conserve energy and ensure survival. Hibernation is an evolutionary process of dormancy characterized by bouts of torpor interrupted by brief periods of arousal, resulting in a hypometabolic state associated with a drop in body temperature, minimal activity, reduced oxygen consumption, and low heart rate. Hibernation can last from a few days to several weeks, while torpor periods are shorter, ranging from hours to days. Although several animals are known to hibernate or undergo torpor, humans do not naturally hibernate. Remarkably, the physiological adaptions of hibernation and torpor are associated with several benefits, including reduced cancer cell proliferation, decreased oxidative stress and tissue damage, neuroprotection, radioprotection, and extended lifespan. An understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying these states could thus benefit human health. Mammalian aging is characterized by diminished tissue regeneration due to declining tissue-specific stem cell function, with hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activity progressively declining in the blood system. Hscs reside in the bone marrow, where their function is regulated by other cell types via regulatory signals in the form of bound or secreted molecules that constitute the HSC microenvironment or niche. Notably, how hibernation and torpor-like states impact the hematopoietic system is unknown. Based on our preliminary data, I hypothesize that induction and recovery from a hibernation-like hypometabolic state induce alterations in HSC function, aging phenotype, and the regulatory HSC bone marrow niche. The overall aim of this project is to investigate the hematopoietic mechanisms underlying torpor and hibernation biology. Altogether, our studies will provide novel mechanistic insights into the unexplored pro-longevity effects of hibernation and the potential to delay hematopoietic aging. These findings may inform new therapeutic strategies for preventing aging-associated hematological malignancies and could support future efforts to develop induced hibernation as a tool for long-duration spaceflight and clinical preservation of tissue function.

Quick answers

Who received award F31HL184753?

F31HL184753 was awarded to University Of Illinois by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (National Institutes of Health) on December 12, 2026.

How much is award F31HL184753 worth?

$50,114 has been obligated on F31HL184753.

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