Regulation of vertebrate hematopoiesis

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to each of the blood lineages found in the adult vertebrate for the lifetime of the host. The gene programs regulating HSC development and homeostasis are highly evolutionarily conserved and initiate during embryonic stages from analogous developmental niches. Critically, intrinsic or extrinsic deregulation of hematopoiesis can result in hematologic disorders and/or malignancies, including leukemia. Using an unbiased chemical screening approaches and targeted genetic modulation, we have identified several key regulatory pathways that impact the specification and/or expansion of Runx1+ definitive HSCs during embryonic development, which show highly conserved function across species.
Source: Experimental Hematology - Category: Hematology Authors: Source Type: research