Hematopoietic multipotent progenitors (MPPs) regulate blood cell production to meet the evolving demands of an organism. Adult human MPPs remain ill defined, whereas mouse MPPs are well characterized, with distinct immunophenotypes and lineage potencies. Using multi-omic single-cell analyses and functional assays, we identified distinct human MPPs within Lin-CD34+CD38dim/lo adult bone marrow with unique biomolecular and functional properties. These populations were prospectively isolated based on expression of CD69, CLL1, and CD2 in addition to classical markers like CD90 and CD45RA. We identified a CD69+ MPP with long-term engraftment and multilineage differentiation potential, a CLL1+ myeloid-biased MPP, and a CLL1-CD69- erythroid-biased MPP. We used this updated hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) profile to study human and mouse bone marrow cells and observe unique cell-type-specific homology between species and cell-type-specific changes associated with human aging. By identifying and functionally characterizing adult MPP sub-populations, we provide a framework for future studies in hematopoiesis.
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality among people with HIV (PWH), with increased incidence and poor outcomes. This study explored whether the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HIV-associated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) limits tumor-specific immune responses. With a matched cohort of NSCLC samples from PWH and from people without HIV (PWOH), we used imaging mass cytometry, a linear mixed-effects model, and an artificial intelligence-based (AI-based) PageRank mathematical algorithm based on spectral graph theory to demonstrate that HIV-associated tumors have differential distribution of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, enriched for the expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and lymphocyte-activating gene 3 (LAG3), as well as activation and proliferation markers. We also demonstrate higher expression of immunoregulatory molecules (PD-L1, PD-L2, B7-H3, B7-H4, IDO1, and VISTA) among tumor-associated macrophages. Discrimination of cells between tumors from PWH versus those from PWOH was confirmed by spectral graph theory with 84.6% accuracy. Furthermore, we noted differences in spatial orientation of immune cells within the TME of PWH compared with PWOH. Additionally, cells from PWH, compared with those from PWOH, exhibited decreased tumor killing when exposed to HLA-matched NSCLC cell lines. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the HIV-associated TME sustained a unique immune landscape, showing evidence of immune cells with enhanced immunoregulatory phenotypes and impaired antitumor responses, with implications for responses to immune checkpoint blocker therapies.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of global mortality. Understanding the underlying immune response to the pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is essential for the development of vaccines. Evidence is accumulating supporting a contribution of innate immune cells and antibodies in Mtb control. Here, we focus on the functional capacity of antibodies from individuals with TB disease, both before and after TB treatment, individuals with TB infection, and healthy uninfected individuals, using an adapted in vitro mycobacterial growth inhibition assay, measuring Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) growth inhibition. Sera displayed heterogeneous impact on mycobacterial growth control. This was correlated with enhanced phagocytic capacity, which was abrogated by blocking Fc receptors (FcR) and depletion of antibodies. This phenotype negatively associated with mono- and digalactosylated Fc-glycans of IgG. Together, we demonstrate disease state independent direct effects of sera to mycobacterial growth control and antibody-FcR interactions modulating phagocytic capacity.
© 2025 The Author(s).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resists immunotherapy due to its immunosuppressive microenvironment. Sarcoma homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) inhibits T cell receptor signaling, and its pharmacological inhibition is limited by poor selectivity and membrane permeability. Here, we generated CRISPR-edited SHP-1-knockout (KO) CD8+ T cells to enhance adoptive therapy against HCC. Single-cell RNA sequencing of HCC patient T cells revealed elevated SHP-1 in exhausted subsets. SHP-1-KO T cells exhibited increased effector memory T cells (TEM) proportions and enhanced IFN-γ/Granzyme B/perforin secretion, improving cytotoxicity against HCC lines. In humanized PDX models, SHP-1-KO T cells demonstrated superior tumor-killing activity. Transcriptomics identified upregulated lipid metabolism pathways, with HMGCR as a hub gene. Combining SHP-1-KO T cells with simvastatin (HMGCR inhibitor) synergistically amplified anti-HCC efficacy. This study proposes a dual strategy combining SHP-1-targeted cell therapy and metabolic modulation to overcome immunotherapy resistance, offering a translatable approach for HCC treatment.
© 2025 The Author(s).

The developmental origin of blood-forming hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is a longstanding question. Here, our non-invasive genetic lineage tracing in mouse embryos pinpoints that artery endothelial cells generate HSCs. Arteries are transiently competent to generate HSCs for 2.5 days (∼E8.5-E11) but subsequently cease, delimiting a narrow time frame for HSC formation in vivo. Guided by the arterial origins of blood, we efficiently and rapidly differentiate human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into posterior primitive streak, lateral mesoderm, artery endothelium, hemogenic endothelium, and >90% pure hematopoietic progenitors within 10 days. hPSC-derived hematopoietic progenitors generate T, B, NK, erythroid, and myeloid cells in vitro and, critically, express hallmark HSC transcription factors HLF and HOXA5-HOXA10, which were previously challenging to upregulate. We differentiated hPSCs into highly enriched HLF+ HOXA+ hematopoietic progenitors with near-stoichiometric efficiency by blocking formation of unwanted lineages at each differentiation step. hPSC-derived HLF+ HOXA+ hematopoietic progenitors could avail both basic research and cellular therapies.
Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.