A recent investigation has provided a glimpse into the distant past, allowing us to trace the origins of blood cells.
Blood / © pexels.com
Researchers from Kyoto University have reconstructed the evolutionary history of blood cells, spanning approximately 700 million years. As the study authors note, almost all animal species, including humans, possess blood cells. However, their origins and composition vary significantly among different species. Despite extensive knowledge regarding the functions of blood cells in both humans and mice, their evolutionary history has remained insufficiently explored until now.
This was reported by the publication Phys.org.
To determine when the first blood cells emerged and how they evolved, scientists developed a novel analytical method. This approach enabled the comparison of gene activity across various cell types and representatives of different animal species. Single-celled organisms were also included in the study to trace the potential ancestry of blood cells.
Utilizing this new methodology, scientists were able to reconstruct the evolutionary connections between cell lineages. Among human blood cells, macrophages were found to be the most similar to the cells of single-celled organisms. The researchers hypothesize that these may be the closest relatives to early blood cells.
Separately, the team analyzed the FOS gene, which is found in the blood cells of many animals. It was discovered that this gene was already present in a single-celled ancestor that lived around 700 million years ago. This could suggest that the earliest blood cells appeared around the same time as the first multicellular animals.
The research also helped to trace the potential formation of different blood cell types. According to the scientists’ reconstruction, mast cells diverged from macrophages, and subsequently, prototype T-cells and erythrocytes arose from them. Meanwhile, prototype B-cells likely branched off from macrophages after the separation of mast cells.
Consequently, the researchers succeeded in recreating the evolutionary tree of blood cells over the past 700 million years. The authors point out that the differentiation pathways of vertebrate blood cells reflect their long evolutionary journey.
The researchers also expressed hope that the method developed during this work could aid in studying the evolutionary origins of various diseases, including cancer, and contribute to a better understanding of their developmental mechanisms.
As a reminder, earlier, German scientists presented an experimental weight-loss drug that penetrates cells and affects energy metabolism. In mice, it reduced weight, appetite, and blood sugar levels.
Comments Sort by: New Old Popular Submit