Inflammatory Memory of Stem Cells: Implications for Hematological Diseases Available to Purchase

Immunological memory in adaptive and innate immune cells is well-characterized, enabling enhanced responses upon secondary challenges. However, it has only been recently appreciated that the non-immune target cells of inflammation, particularly organ-specific stem cells, also exhibit memory of prior inflammatory exposures. Previous inflammation experience imprints on the stem cells and influences their regenerative potential and responses to subsequent inflammatory insults. This phenomenon has been observed in hematopoietic, intestinal, and skin epithelial stem cells, with profound implications for tissue homeostasis, disease progression, and therapeutic strategies. Herein, we expand and develop the notion of inflammatory memory of stem cells and explore recent insights in the field. We discuss the emerging understanding of the molecular underpinnings and their potential clinical and biological implications. Inflammatory memory is driven by spatio-temporal changes in gene loci and transcription regulated by DNA and histones' epigenetic modifications, metabolic reprogramming, and chromatin accessibility changes. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for improving the outcomes of hematological diseases, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and cellular immunotherapies.