Synergistic cooperation between progranulin and Jak2/Stat3 signaling determines definitive myeloid cell fate

Perturbations in cell fate disrupt tissue homeostasis and drive diseases such as cancer. The JAK/STAT pathway is central to hematopoietic malignancies, yet its regulators in cell fate decisions remain poorly defined. Here, we identify progranulin (GRN) as a critical determinant of myeloid fate through the regulation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Using inducible stat3 and grna zebrafish models, knockout approaches, FACS, transcriptomics, and CUT&RUN, we show that Stat3 induces grna, which in turn amplifies stat3 expression, reinforcing myeloid over erythroid commitment. Lineage tracing and live imaging reveal that this Grna/Stat3 feedback operates during definitive, but not primitive, myelopoiesis. Functionally, definitive myeloid cells drive tissue repair, whereas primitive counterparts are less effective. Myeloid differentiation in a human leukemia line required GRN co-stimulation of JAK2/STAT3, highlighting its conserved role in fate determination. These findings uncover a regulatory axis controlling hematopoietic commitment and identify GRN as a potential therapeutic target in diseases with aberrant JAK2/STAT3 activation.