Epigenetics and Stem Cell Aging Unit

Isabel Beerman , PhD, Chief

The Epigenetics and Stem Cell Aging Unit is focused on understanding mechanisms that underlie age-associated functional decline, with a focus on adult tissue-specific stem cells. By establishing the mechanisms leading to dysregulation of stem cells, we can begin to target these alterations to restore potential to the aging stem cell compartments. As the tissue-specific stem cells are responsible for maintaining overall tissue homeostasis, reestablishing the full potential to these aged cells could mitigate many aged associated phenotypes.

List of Portfolio/Research Areas

Our current projects fall under four main categories:

  • Stem Cell Aging
  • Epigenetic Modifications
  • Reprogramming
  • Extrinsic Contributions
  • Interventions

Findings and Publications

Yanai H and Park B et al, Short-term periodic restricted feeding elicits metabolome-microbiome signatures with sex dimorphic persistence in primate intervention. Nat Commun. 2024 Feb 5;15(1):1088.

Zong L and Tanaka-Yano M et al, NAD+ augmentation with nicotinamide riboside improves lymphoid potential of Atm-/- and old mice HSCs. NPJ Aging Mech Dis. 2021 Sep 21;7(1):25

Yanai H et al, Male rat leukocyte population dynamics predict a window for intervention in aging. Elife. 2022 May 4:11:e76808.

Tanaka-Yano M et al, Tristetraprolin overexpression drives hematopoietic changes in young and middle-aged mice generating dominant mitigating effects on induced inflammation in murine models, Geroscience. 2024 Feb;46(1):1271-1284

Stock A et al, Boosting NAD ameliorates hematopoietic impairment linked to short telomeres in vivo. Geroscience. 2023 Aug;45(4):2213-2228

Beerman I and Rossi DJ. Epigenetic Control of Stem Cell Potential During Homeostasis, Aging, and Disease . Cell Stem Cell 2015; Jun 4; 16(6): 613-625

Beerman I*, Seita J*, Inlay MA, Weissman IL, Rossi DJ. Quiescent hematopoietic stem cells accumulate DNA damage during aging that is repaired upon entry into cell cycle . Cell Stem Cell 2014. Jul 3;15(1):37-50

Beerman I, Bock C, Garrison BS, Smith ZD, Gu H, Meissner A, Rossi DJ, Proliferation-Dependent Alterations of the DNA Methylation Landscape Underlie Hematopoietic Stem Cell Aging . Cell Stem Cell 2013. Apr 4;12(4):413-25

Beerman I, Bhattacharya D, Zandi S, Sigvardsson M, Weissman IL, Bryder D, Rossi DJ. Functionally distinct hematopoietic stem cells modulate hematopoietic lineage potential during aging by a mechanism of clonal expansion . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010 Mar; 107(12): 5465-7