Summary

Megakaryocytic-erythroid progenitors (MEPs) give rise to the cells that produce red blood cells and platelets. Although the mechanisms underlying megakaryocytic (MK) and erythroid (E) maturation have been described, those controlling their specification from MEPs are unknown. Single-cell RNA sequencing of primary human MEPs, common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), megakaryocyte progenitors, and E progenitors revealed a distinct transitional MEP signature. Inferred regulatory transcription factors (TFs) were associated with differential expression of cell cycle regulators. Genetic manipulation of selected TFs validated their role in lineage specification and demonstrated coincident modulation of the cell cycle. Genetic and pharmacologic modulation demonstrated that cell cycle activation is sufficient to promote E versus MK specification. These findings, obtained from healthy human cells, lay a foundation to study the mechanisms underlying benign and malignant disease states of the megakaryocytic and E lineages.

Overall design

overall_design too long too uplode

Contributors

Yi-Chien Lu 1, Chad Sanada 2, Juliana Xavier-Ferrucio 2, Lin Wang 2, Ping-Xia Zhang 2, H Leighton Grimes 3, Meenakshi Venkatasubramanian 4, Kashish Chetal 4, Bruce Aronow 5, Nathan Salomonis 5, Diane S Krause 2

Contact

yi-chien.lu@yale.edu.(Yi-Chien Lu)