Abstract
Self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells is vital for the sustained daily production of blood cells. Two recent studies have shown that the Polycomb-group gene Bmi-1 is indispensable for regulation of self-renewal by normal and leukemic stem cells. This identifies Polycomb-group genes as potential targets for therapeutic intervention in leukemia, and possibly other forms of cancer.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cell Lineage
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Gene Expression Regulation
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Hematopoiesis / physiology*
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Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology*
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Humans
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Leukemia / genetics*
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Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
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Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
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Repressor Proteins*
Substances
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BMI1 protein, human
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Nuclear Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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Polycomb Repressive Complex 1