Erythroid precursors regulate local oxygen tension and repair outcomes in the bone marrow niche

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Annemarie Lang - , Centre for Translational Bone, Joint and Soft Tissue Research (Author)
  • Joseph M. Collins - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Madhura P. Nijsure - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Simin Belali - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Mohd Parvez Khan - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Yasaman Moharrer - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Ernestina Schipani - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Yvette Y. Yien - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Yi Fan - , University of Pennsylvania Health System (Author)
  • Michael Gelinsky - , Centre for Translational Bone, Joint and Soft Tissue Research (Author)
  • Sergei A. Vinogradov - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Cameron Koch - , University of Pennsylvania Health System (Author)
  • Joel D. Boerckel - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)

Abstract

Oxygen tension dynamically regulates stem cell fate and tissue regeneration, yet how local oxygen availability is controlled within the bone marrow niche remains poorly understood. While bone marrow injury, such as by bone fracture, disrupts marrow vasculature, the consequences for local oxygen tension remain unclear. Here, we show in mice that while the tissue oxygen tension in bone marrow is low (25 mmHg, ~4% O2), intracellular oxygenation is heterogeneous, and erythroid cells are high in oxygen. Bone fracture elevates oxygen tension in the injured bone marrow (>55 mmHg, ~8%), which persists for over a week postinjury. This oxygen elevation results not from angiogenesis, but rather from localized expansion of erythroid precursor cells in the injured bone marrow. Injury-activated erythroid precursors synthesize hemoglobin and concentrate oxygen at the injury site; however, blocking transferrin receptor 1 (CD71)-mediated iron uptake impairs hemoglobin synthesis, reduces local oxygen levels, and enhances bone regeneration through increased angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Together, these findings identify erythroid precursors as active regulators of local oxygen availability in the bone marrow niche, which may be targetable to enhance tissue regeneration.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2522548122
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume122
Issue number46
Publication statusPublished - 18 Nov 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41218120
ORCID /0000-0001-9075-5121/work/198593944

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • bone marrow injury, erythropoiesis, oxygen microenvironment