Epigenetic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell development.

Overview

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are multipotent self-renewing precursors with the capacity to differentiate into all adult blood cell lineages. HSC development is a highly orchestrated process regulated by multiple transcription factors and signaling pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic regulation is an additional essential component of HSC development. Powerful genetic and imaging approaches, combined with conservation of mammalian programs, have made zebrafish a prominent model for the study of HSC production. This chapter summarizes approaches that have been used to identify epigenetic regulators of HSC development in zebrafish and highlights additional strategies that are likely to facilitate progress in this promising field.