Epigenetic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal by polycomb group genes.
Polycomb group (PcG) genes are involved in the maintenance of cellular memory through epigenetic chromatin modifications. Recent studies have implicated a role for PcG genes in the self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), a process in which cellular memory is maintained through cell division. Among the PcG genes, Bmi-1 plays a central role in the inheritance of stemness, and its forced expression promotes HSC self-renewal. These findings highlight the importance of epigenetic regulation in HSC self-renewal and identify PcG genes as potential targets for therapeutic HSC manipulation.
Iwama
Atsushi
A
Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Experimental Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan. aiwama@faculty.chiba-u.jp
Oguro
Hideyuki
H
Negishi
Masamitsu
M
Kato
Yuko
Y
Nakauchi
Hiromitsu
H
D017209:Apoptosis; D002455:Cell Division; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D002843:Chromatin; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins