Identification of homeobox-containing genes expressed in hematopoietic blast cells.

Among putative candidates involved in commitment and differentiation of hematopoietic cells are homeoproteins, a large family of transcription factors playing a major role during development. Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-derived protocol, we have investigated for Antennapedia-like homeobox-containing (HOX) gene expression in an enriched population of human hematopoietic progenitors. Nine members of HOX 1 and HOX 2 loci were isolated. Together with recent studies using established cell lines, this indicates a large representation of HOX genes in the hematopoietic compartment and suggests a participation of this class of nuclear proteins to early steps of hematopoiesis.