The transcription factor Erg is essential for definitive hematopoiesis and the function of adult hematopoietic stem cells

• Published in: Nature immunology Vol. 9; no. 7; pp. 810 - 819
• Main Authors: Kile, Benjamin T, Loughran, Stephen J, Kruse, Elizabeth A, Hacking, Douglas F, de Graaf, Carolyn A, Hyland, Craig D, Willson, Tracy A, Henley, Katya J, Ellis, Sarah, Voss, Anne K, Metcalf, Donald, Hilton, Douglas J, Alexander, Warren S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01-07-2008; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; DNA binding proteins; Flow Cytometry; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic aspects; Hematopoiesis; Hematopoiesis - physiology; Hematopoietic stem cells; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - physiology; Humans; Immunology; Infectious Diseases; Leukemia; Mice; Mice, Mutant Strains; Mutation; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Sarcoma; Stem cells; Trans-Activators - genetics; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptional Regulator ERG; Australia
• ISSN: 1529-2908; 1529-2916
• DOI: 10.1038/ni.1617

Ets family transcription factors function in mammalian development. Kile and colleagues demonstrate that the Ets family member Erg is essential for definitive hematopoiesis and adult hematopoietic stem cell function.
Ets-related gene (
ERG
), which encodes a member of the Ets family of transcription factors, is a potent oncogene. Chromosomal rearrangements involving
ERG
are found in acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Ewing's sarcoma and more than half of all prostate cancers; however, the normal physiological function of Erg is unknown. We did a sensitized genetic screen of the mouse for regulators of hematopoietic stem cell function and report here a germline mutation of
Erg
. We show that Erg is required for definitive hematopoiesis, adult hematopoietic stem cell function and the maintenance of normal peripheral blood platelet numbers.