Dr. Abraham's lab demonstrated that controlling reactive oxygen species (ROS), via the induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), increased stem cell longevity, as measured in long term bone marrow cultures, and showed that the proper stromal microenvironment is essential for stem cell renewal and differentiation. Abraham's laboratory is conducting clinical trials using stem cells to treat heart failure and stem cells transduced with an IFN gene to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia, and believes that the use of whole bone marrow, not just CD34+ cells, may be ideal.
Kim, D.H., Burgess, A.P., Li, M., Tsenovoy, P.L., Addabbo, F., McClung, J.A., Puri, N., Abraham, N.G. (2008). Heme oxygenase-mediated increases in adiponectin decrease fat content and inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in Zucker rats and reduce adipogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008 Jun; 325(3): 833-40. Epub 2008 Mar 11.
Abraham, N.G., Li, M., Vanella, L., Peterson, S.J., Ikehara, S., Asprinio, D. (2008). Bone marrow stem cell transplant into intra-bone cavity prevents type 2 diabetes: role of heme oxygenase-adiponectin. J Autoimmun. 2008 May; 30(3): 128-35.