Embryonic stem cell-derived hematopoietic stem cells

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Dec 27;102(52):19081-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0506127102. Epub 2005 Dec 15.

Abstract

Despite two decades of studies documenting the in vitro blood-forming potential of murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs), achieving stable long-term blood engraftment of ESC-derived hematopoietic stem cells in irradiated mice has proven difficult. We have exploited the Cdx-Hox pathway, a genetic program important for blood development, to enhance the differentiation of ESCs along the hematopoietic lineage. Using an embryonic stem cell line engineered with tetracycline-inducible Cdx4, we demonstrate that ectopic Cdx4 expression promotes hematopoietic mesoderm specification, increases hematopoietic progenitor formation, and, together with HoxB4, enhances multilineage hematopoietic engraftment of lethally irradiated adult mice. Clonal analysis of retroviral integration sites confirms a common stem cell origin of lymphoid and myeloid populations in engrafted primary and secondary mice. These data document the cardinal stem cell features of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation of ESC-derived hematopoietic stem cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / chemistry
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Separation
  • Cell Transplantation
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hematopoiesis / physiology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mesoderm / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Time Factors
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Cdx4 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • DNA