Kyoto University Maps 700-Million-Year Blood Cell Tree, Tracing Human Immunity to Single-Celled Ancestors
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · May 27
Kyoto University Maps 700-Million-Year Blood Cell Tree, Tracing Human Immunity to Single-Celled Ancestors
6 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · May 27
A 700-million-year evolutionary analysis found human blood cells likely descend from single-celled ancestors, with macrophages showing the strongest resemblance to those ancient precursors.
Kyoto University researchers reached that conclusion by comparing gene-expression patterns across many animal cell types and unicellular organisms, then rebuilding blood-cell family trees across species.
The study traced the widely expressed blood-cell gene FOS to a unicellular ancestor from about 700 million years ago, suggesting the first blood cells emerged as multicellular animals appeared.
Their reconstructed lineage indicates mast cells evolved from macrophages, while early T cells and red blood cells later branched from mast cells; prototypic B cells split directly from macrophages.
The team said the method could also help probe the evolutionary roots of diseases including cancer, potentially improving understanding of disease mechanisms and future treatments.
Our immune cells are 700 million years old. Does this ancient origin explain cancer's deadly evolutionary tricks?
If our blood's 'operating system' is 700 million years old, what ancient code could unlock future cures?