Conférence Keisuke Ito – Mitochondrial metabolism shaping hematopoietic stem cell fate and its therapeutic targeting in hematological disorders

Biosketch/Roles
Professor of Cell Biology, Medicine, and Oncology
Director of Scientific Resources of the Stem Cell Institute

Seminar Abstract
The Ito lab aims to illuminate the pathways that govern stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. They have developed single‑cell approaches that reveal mitophagy driven by fatty acid (FA) metabolism as a key driver of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self‑renewal (Science 2016; Exp Hematology 2018; Stem Cell Research 2019). In situ analyses with Dr. Lucas identified cells and structures enabling both normal and stress hematopoiesis (Nature, 2024). They explored how mitochondrial FA metabolism shapes HSC fate and roles of extracellular vesicles in maintaining HSC properties (Cell Stem Cell, 2024). They also studied mitochondrial involvement in AML, retinoic acid signaling, and clonal hematopoiesis with Drs. Cabezas‑Wallscheid (Cell Stem Cell 2022) and de Thé (Cancer Discov 2021), and more recently with Drs. Trowbridge (Nat Commun 2025) and van Gastel (Cancer Metab 2025). Furthermore, their research focuses include mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) as dynamic ER-mitochondria communication hubs (e.g., Science 2010; Cell Death Differ 2023), and their translational work on STAT3 degradation for leukemia therapy was just published (Leukemia, Feb 2026). They identified Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) as a regulator of HSC aging and inflammation in MDS pathogenesis (EMBO Reports 2022). Finally, their collaborative work with Dr. Meelad Dawlaty’s lab revealed non‑catalytic Tet2 requirements in hematopoiesis (Cell Reports 2019; Science Advances 2022; Exp Hematology 2023; HemaSphere 2025).