Transcriptional Heterogeneity and Lineage Commitment in Myeloid Progenitors Paul, Franziska et al. Cell , Volume 163 , Issue 7 , 1663 - 1677
Abstract:
Within the bone marrow, stem cells differentiate and give rise to diverse blood cell types and functions.
Currently, hematopoietic progenitors are defined using surface markers combined with functional assays
that are not directly linked with in vivo differentiation potential or gene regulatory mechanisms. Here,
we comprehensively map myeloid progenitor subpopulations by transcriptional sorting of single cells
from the bone marrow. We describe multiple progenitor subgroups, showing unexpected transcriptional
priming toward seven differentiation fates but no progenitors with a mixed state. Transcriptional differentiation is correlated with combinations of known and previously undefined transcription factors, suggesting that the process is tightly regulated. Histone maps and knockout assays are consistent with early
transcriptional priming, while traditional transplantation experiments suggest that in vivo priming may
still allow for plasticity given strong perturbations. These data establish a reference model and general
framework for studying hematopoiesis at single-cell resolution.