Regular blood donors may acquire beneficial genetic changes to their blood stem cells , according to a major new study.
British and German researchers worked together on the project to study samples from over 200 frequent donors (>100 lifetime donations) and compare them with more than 200 occasional donors (<10 lifetime donations).
The research, published in Blood, identified genetic changes over time in the blood of both groups. These included changes to the DNMT3A gene, which when mutated can increase a person’s chances of developing leukaemia.
However, among frequent donors, the changes in the DNMT3A gene were not in pre-leukemic areas, the researchers report.
Further laboratory studies suggested the mutations in the frequent donors were a response to frequent blood loss and supported improved red blood cell production.
The team showed that the mutations found in frequent blood donors made the blood stem cells more responsive to the hormone EPO (which increases after blood loss), skewing the stem cells to produce more red blood cells. In contrast, the pre-leukaemic mutations caused stem cells to respond to inflammation by increasing myeloid cell production.
Researcher Prof Dominique Bonnet, from the Francis Crick Institute, London, said: “Our work is a fascinating example of how our genes interact with the environment and as we age. Activities that put low levels of stress on blood cell production allow our blood stem cells to renew and we think this favours mutations that further promote stem cell growth rather than disease.
“Our sample size is quite modest, so we can’t say that blood donation definitely decreases the incidence of pre-leukemic mutations and we will need to look at these results in much larger numbers of people.”
Fellow researcher Dr Hector Huerga Encabo, also from the Crick, said: “We had to look at a very specific group of people to spot subtle genetic differences which might actually be beneficial in the long-term. We’re now aiming to work out how these different types of mutations play a role in developing leukaemia or not, and whether they can be targeted therapeutically.”
Source:
Karpova D, Huerga Encabo H Dr, Donato E, Calderazzo S, Scherer M, Llorian-Sopena M, Leppä AM, Würth R, Stelmach P, Papazoglou D, Ferrelli A, Ngo S, Kotova I, Harenkamp S, Zimmer K, Wolf D, Panten J, Reed J, Przybylla A, Tonn T, Kopp-Schneider A, Velten L, DiPersio JF, Wong TN, Bonnet D Prof, Bonig H, Trumpp A. (2025) “Clonal Hematopoiesis Landscape in Frequent Blood Donors.” Blood, 11 March 2025, doi: 10.1182/blood.2024027999.
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