Simultaneous loss of β-and γ-catenin does not perturb hematopoiesis or lymphopoiesis

U Koch, A Wilson, M Cobas, R Kemler… - Blood, The Journal …, 2008 - ashpublications.org
U Koch, A Wilson, M Cobas, R Kemler, HR MacDonald, F Radtke
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2008ashpublications.org
Hematopietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain life-long hematopoiesis in the bone marrow via
their ability to self-renew and to differentiate into all blood lineages. Although a central role
for the canonical wnt signaling pathway has been suggested in HSC self-renewal as well as
in the development of B and T cells, conditional deletion of β-catenin (which is considered to
be essential for Wnt signaling) has no effect on hematopoiesis or lymphopoiesis. Here, we
address whether this discrepancy can be explained by a redundant and compensatory …
Hematopietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain life-long hematopoiesis in the bone marrow via their ability to self-renew and to differentiate into all blood lineages. Although a central role for the canonical wnt signaling pathway has been suggested in HSC self-renewal as well as in the development of B and T cells, conditional deletion of β-catenin (which is considered to be essential for Wnt signaling) has no effect on hematopoiesis or lymphopoiesis. Here, we address whether this discrepancy can be explained by a redundant and compensatory function of γ-catenin, a close homolog of β-catenin. Unexpectedly, we find that combined deficiency of β- and γ-catenin in hematopoietic progenitors does not impair their ability to self-renew and to reconstitute all myeloid, erythroid, and lymphoid lineages, even in competitive mixed chimeras and serial transplantations. These results exclude an essential role for canonical Wnt signaling (as mediated by β- and/or γ-catenin) during hematopoiesis and lymphopoiesis.
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