[Thrombopoietin regulates mitochondria homeostasis for hematopoietic stem cell maintenance]

Cell cycle quiescence is a fundamental property of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Quiescent HSCs form a healthy pool of cells that serve as a reserve for massive HSC expansion under various conditions of stress. We previously reported that thrombopoietin (THPO) maintains quiescent HSCs and stimulates mitochondrial metabolism, megakaryocyte-lineage differentiation, and proliferation of HSCs. The underlying mechanism by which THPO balances its contradictory effect of promoting proliferation or quiescence on HSCs remains unknown. This review explores the role of THPO signaling in HSC differentiation and quiescence regulation. We present our data, which suggests that a THPO-independent HSC subpopulation sustaining a low mitochondrial metabolic profile reverts to quiescence and regains stem cell potential with external stimuli. There is a possibility that THPO-independent HSCs form a non-quiescent reserve HSC pool from which quiescent HSCs originate in the adult bone marrow.