Researchers from the University of Konstanz in Germany and Queen Mary University of London in the UK have identified for the first time a key molecular signal, the chemokine CXCL12, which induces the ejection of red blood cell precursors from the nucleus, a crucial step in red blood cell maturation. This discovery will provide a new path for the large-scale production of artificial blood. Although research on artificial hematopoiesis has been ongoing for decades, the related technology has yet to achieve clinical scale application. The key challenge is that the mechanism by which blood is naturally generated in the human body is extremely complex and still not fully understood. In the human body, blood is naturally generated in the bone marrow. Stem cells gradually develop into precursor cells of red blood cells, ultimately becoming red blood cells. Before developing into mature red blood cells, red blood cell precursor cells need to expel their nuclei to make room for more hemoglobin and transport oxygen more efficiently. This process is only seen in mammals. Researchers say that blood production depends on favorable timing and location. They found that the chemokine CXCL12, mainly present in the bone marrow, can induce the ejection of red blood cell precursor cells from the nucleus. This process requires precise timing and synergistic effects with multiple factors. Researchers can successfully trigger this critical process by adding CXCL12 to red blood cell precursor cells at the appropriate time. Research has shown that unlike most cells that undergo migration under CXCL12 stimulation, red blood cell precursor cells actively transport this signaling molecule into the interior of the cell, even into the nucleus, thereby accelerating maturation and promoting nuclear expulsion. This discovery is considered a major breakthrough in artificial blood research, with the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of artificial hematopoiesis. Researchers say that if large-scale and personalized production of artificial blood is achieved in the future, it will not only alleviate the shortage of blood sources, but also promote the targeted synthesis of rare blood types, and even achieve patient autologous blood regeneration for precise treatment of various diseases such as cancer and genetic diseases. (New Society)