The role of Runx1/AML1 and Evi-1 in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cells.

Lineage-specific transcription factors must be precisely regulated during stem cell self-renewal and lineage commitment decisions. The role of specific transcription factors in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) fate decisions has derived largely from genetic strategies, primarily gene-targeting and transgenic or retroviral overexpression experiments. From the previous experimental results, several transcription factors have been found to play critical roles in HSC physiology. Among them, we focus two transcription factors, Runx1/AML1 and Evi-1, in this review. During embryogenesis, both Runx1 and Evi-1 are essential for HSCs whereas in the adult, Runx1 and Evi-1 regulate HSCs negatively and positively, respectively. 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.