Transcriptional Control of Hematopoiesis

Publisher Summary The field of experimental hematology has advanced dramatically since the development of the clonal culture assay in the mid-1960s. This technique proved to be crucial for many reasons. The subsequent application of molecular cloning techniques allowed the genes encoding these extracellular growth factors, or colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), to be defined and recombinant molecules to be produced. The ability to molecularly clone mammalian genes also provided a new perspective for experimental hematologists. The knowledge that transcription factors were important in determining cell fate in other systems was quickly translated to hematopoietic cells, with identification of key transcriptional regulators. The application of molecular genetic techniques has provided entirely new approaches for dissecting the hematopoietic compartment. Some of the important transcription factors are reviewed in this chapter, where new insights into their role in hematopoiesis have been provided by using this approach. The chapter concludes by presenting a hopeful future that genetic approaches will continue to be vital in furthering our initial insights into the role of transcription factors in the regulation of hematopoiesis.