The T cell leukemia LIM protein Lmo2 is necessary for adult mouse hematopoiesis

The LIM-finger protein Lmo2, which is activated in T cell leukemias by chromosomal translocations, is required for yolk sac erythropoiesis. Because Lmo2 null mutant mice die at embryonic day 9-10, it prevents an assessment of a role in other stages of hematopoiesis. We have now studied the hematopoietic contribution of homozygous mutant Lmo2 -/- mouse embryonic stem cells and found that Lmo2 -/- cells do not contribute to any hematopoietic lineage in adult chimeric mice, but reintroduction of an Lmo2-expression vector rescues the ability of Lmo2 null embryonic stem cells to contribute to all lineages tested. This disruption of hematopoiesis probably occurs because interaction of Lmo2 protein with factors such as Tal1/Scl is precluded. Thus, Lmo2 is necessary for early stages of hematopoiesis, and the Lmo2 master gene encodes a protein that has a central and crucial role in the hematopoietic development.