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Florian Group
Stem Cell Aging
Understanding alterations of aged somatic stem cells and improve the regeneration of tissues
Aging is the first risk factor for most diseases and we believe that understanding the biology of stem cell aging will be critical to enhance stem cell function and preserve their regenerative capacity over time. Our mission is to end the threat of age-related diseases and promote longevity
Lab focus – Understanding epigenetic regulators of the aging process
Somatic stem cells have the ability to regenerate tissues over time. This capacity declines with age, disrupting tissue maintenance. Many age-related diseases, including cancer and sarcopenia, are likely consequence of stem cell dysfunction. Understanding how stem cells age and identifying intervention strategies to maintain stem cell function and regenerative capacity is thus likely to lead to new therapeutic approaches for maintaining our health as we age.
Our lab uses mouse models to explore the biology of stem cell function and regeneration and to identify mechanisms of age-related stem cell dysfunction. Our focus is on epigenetic alterations that can be pharmacologically targeted and on the interactions between stem cells and the niche. Based on our findings we have identified intervention strategies to improve the regenerative capacity of aged stem cells and we have unravelled biological alterations in the stem cell niche that could help our understanding of disease development in the elderly.
Why it matters
Interventions that promote stem cell health are likely to provide new avenues to prolong human tissue health and to treat or prevent a wide range of age-related diseases. Coupling fundamental insight into stem cell biology to the exploration of such intervention strategies is likely to be a productive route for the identification of new and promising therapeutic approaches.
News
Inhibition of Cdc42 activity extends murine lifespan
Cdc42 is a small RhoGTPase regulating multiple functions in eukaryotic cells…
La inteligencia artificial, nueva aliada contra la leucemia
La leucemia mieloide aguda es un tipo de cáncer de la sangre muy agresivo. Afecta 10 veces……

Details about eligibility criteria, how to apply and the project are available at this link:
Keywords
Stem Cells, Aging, Regenerative Medicine, Epigenetics, Chromatin, Hematopoietic Stem Cell, Bone Marrow Niche
Publications
Sacma M, Pospiech J, Bogeska R, de Back W, Mallm JP, Sakk V, Soller K, Marka G, Vollmer A, Karns R, Cabezas-Wallscheid N, Trumpp A, Mendez-Ferrer S, Milsom MD, Mulaw M, Geiger H, Florian MC (2019) Haematopoietic stem cells in perisinusoidal niches are protected from ageing. Nat Cell Biol in press
Grigoryan A, Guidi N, Senger K, Liehr T, Soller K, Marka G, Vollmer A, Markaki Y, Leonhardt H, Buske C, Lipka DB, Plass C, Zheng Y, Mulaw MA, Geiger H, Florian MC. (2018) LaminA/C regulates epigenetic and chromatin architecture changes upon aging of hematopoietic stem cells. Genome Biol 19(1):189.
Florian MC*, Sacma M, Klose M, Knudson L, Soller K, Marka G, Nattamai KJ, Sakk V, Zheng Y, Mulaw MA, Glauche I, Geiger H* (2018) Aging alters the epigenetic asymmetry of HSC division. DOI 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003389. PLOS Biology *corresponding authors
Florian MC, Klenk J, Marka G, Soller K, Kiryakos H, Peter R, Herbolsheimer F, Rothenbacher D, Denkinger M, Geiger H (2017) Expression and activity of the small RhoGTPase Cdc42 in blood cells of older adults are associated with age and cardiovascular disease. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
Florian MC, Nattamai KJ, Dorr K, Marka G, Uberle B, Vas V, Eckl C, Andra I, Schiemann M, Oostendorp RA, Scharffetter-Kochanek K, Kestler HA, Zheng Y, Geiger H (2013) A canonical to non-canonical Wnt signalling switch in haematopoietic stem-cell ageing. Nature 503: 392-6
Current Members
Past Members
Current Members

Eva Mejía Ramírez de Arellano
Research Assistant
Research project: Upon aging the epigenetic and chromatin architecture of hematopoietic stem cells is altered together with a decreased in their regenerative capacity. Understanding how the chromatin and epigenetic architecture is changing might offer new therapeutic strategies for improving tissue regeneration of aged stem cells.

Francesca Matteini
Post Doc
Research project: Stem cell activity tightly depends on their supporting microenvironment. Understanding how the stem cell niche is changing upon aging will shed new light on the mechanisms of stem cell/niche interaction and tissue regeneration upon aging and disease.

Barbara Walter
PhD student
Research project: Acute myeloid leukaemia incidence increases exponentially with aging, while survival outcome for older patients is extremely poor. Epigenetic alterations in aged stem cells are supposed to be involved in disease development and represent possible new therapeutic targets.
Past Members
Ani Grigoryan
Johannes Pospiech
Noelle J. Ali
Polina Zjablovskaja
Johannes Pospiech
Noelle J. Ali
Polina Zjablovskaja