Zfat Is Indispensable for the Development of Erythroid Cells in the Fetal Liver.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In mice, fetal liver is the first tissue of definitive erythropoiesis for definitive erythroid expansion and maturation. ZFAT, originally identified as a candidate susceptibility gene for autoimmune thyroid disease, has been reported to be involved in primitive hematopoiesis and T cell development. The aim of this study was to examine whether or not Zfat is involved in definitive erythropoiesis in the fetal liver during mammalian development.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The role of Zfat during mouse fetal erythropoiesis in the fetal liver was examined using tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2 Zfat-deficient mice.

RESULTS

Zfat-deficient mice exhibit moderate anemia with small and pale fetal liver through a decreased number of erythroblasts by E12.5. Apoptosis sensitivity in fetal liver erythroid progenitors was enhanced by Zfat-deficiency ex vivo. Moreover, Zfat knockdown partially inhibited CD71-/lowTer119- to CD71highTer119- transition of fetal liver erythroid progenitors with impairment in the elevation of CD71 expression.

CONCLUSION

Zfat plays a critical role for erythropoiesis in the fetal liver.