FOXP1 contributes to murine hematopoietic stem cell functionality

Transcription factor forkhead box P1 (FOXP1) is a key regulator of immune cell functions. We have shown that FOXP1 contributes to the expansion of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) and acute myeloid leukemia cells. Here, we investigated the role of FOXP1 in early adult mouse hematopoiesis in vivo. We showed that loss of hematopoietic-specific FOXP1 expression leads to attrition of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and multipotent progenitor (MPP)-1 compartment in parallel with enhancement of myeloid-biased MPP3 in adult bone marrow and fetal liver. Transplantation experiments confirmed that FOXP1-deficient bone marrow had an intrinsic reduced HSC compartment. FOXP1-deficient MPP compartments also showed enhanced proliferation with G0 phase reduction. Transcriptome analyses revealed that FOXP1-deficient HSC exhibited reduced stemness and enhanced expression of cell proliferation pathways. Thus, our current results revealed that FOXP1 plays a critical role in early murine hematopoiesis by maintaining HSCs, limiting the expansion of all MPP compartments, and restricting early myeloid commitment in vivo.