Hitoshi Takizawa

International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Japan

Hematopoiesis is a continuous blood production process sustained by hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are somatic stem cells with a lifelong capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into all blood and immune   cells.   Under   hematopoietic   stress   from   conditions   like infection, inflammation, or chemotherapy, the functions of HSCs and progenitor  cells  are  substantially  altered,  leading  to  attenuated self-renewal and biased differentiation. Our work has uncovered the

role  of  innate  immune  signaling  in  HSCs  and  their  progeny  during  these  stress  responses, contributing to the emerging field of stress hematopoiesis. Recently, we discovered that microbial infiltration  resulting  from  gut  tissue  damage  or  an  aging-associated  leaky  gut  adapts hematopoiesis to enhance myelopoiesis. This finding suggests a crosstalk mechanism between the gut and bone marrow that may function as a form of tissue surveillance. Building on these findings, I will discuss how various modes of cross-organ communication tailor hematopoiesis to meet the specific demands of inflamed tissues.