Open AccessIntermediate progenitor cells provide a transition between hematopoietic progenitors and their differentiated descendants
Author(s) -
Carrie M. Spratford,
Lauren M. Goins,
Fangtao Chi,
Juliet R. Girard,
Savannah N. Macias,
Vivien W. Ho,
Utpal Banerjee
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.754
H-Index - 325
eISSN - 1477-9129
pISSN - 0950-1991
DOI - 10.1242/dev.200216
Subject(s) - biology , progenitor cell , haematopoiesis , microbiology and biotechnology , progenitor , stem cell , cellular differentiation , cell type , cell , genetics , gene
Genetic and genomic analysis in Drosophila suggests that hematopoietic progenitors likely transition into terminal fates via intermediate progenitors (IPs) with some characteristics of either, but perhaps maintaining IP-specific markers. In the past, IPs have not been directly visualized and investigated owing to lack of appropriate genetic tools. Here, we report a Split GAL4 construct, CHIZ-GAL4, that identifies IPs as cells physically juxtaposed between true progenitors and differentiating hemocytes. IPs are a distinct cell type with a unique cell-cycle profile and they remain multipotent for all blood cell fates. In addition, through their dynamic control of the Notch ligand Serrate, IPs specify the fate of direct neighbors. The Ras pathway controls the number of IP cells and promotes their transition into differentiating cells. This study suggests that it would be useful to characterize such intermediate populations of cells in mammalian hematopoietic systems.