MEIS1 Regulates Hemogenic Endothelial Generation, Megakaryopoiesis, and Thrombopoiesis in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by Targeting TAL1 and FLI1

Abstract

mesoderm progenitors to functional hemogenic endothelial progenitors (HEPs), thereby controlling formation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). TAL1 mediates the function of MEIS1 in HEP specification. In addition, MEIS1 is vital for megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis from hPSCs. Mechanistically, FLI1 acts as a downstream gene necessary for the function of MEIS1 during megakaryopoiesis. Thus, MEIS1 controls human hematopoiesis in a stage-specific manner and can be potentially manipulated for large-scale generation of HPCs or platelets from hPSCs for therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine.