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Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Direct Induction of Hemogenic Endothelium and Blood by Overexpression of Transcription Factors in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: December 3, 2015
[Transcription factors responsible for megakaryocyte-specific gene expression]
1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Japan. doi@phs.osaka-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Megakaryocytes are the hematopoietic precursors of platelets, which play an essential role in thrombosis and hemostasis. Platelet factor 4 (PF4) is expressed exclusively in megakaryocytes and platelets and serves as a lineage-specific marker of megakaryocytic differentiation. We previously characterized a number of upstream enhancer and repressor elements and demonstrated that GATA-1 and ETS-1 are important for PF4 gene expression. Recently, we have determined the novel regulatory element termed "TME" in the PF4 promoter and identified a group of binding proteins from megakaryocytic HEL cells. Here we review the function of these proteins in PF4 gene expression and discuss megakaryocyte-specific gene expression and megakaryocytepoiesis.
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