GATA-3 REGULATES THE SELF-RENEWAL OF LONG-TERM HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS

Gata3 is expressed and required for differentiation and function throughout the T lymphocyte lineage. Despite evidence it may also be expressed in multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), any role in these cells has remained unclear. Here we show GATA3 was cytoplasmic in quiescent long-term stem cells from steady state bone marrow, but relocated to the nucleus when HSC cycle. Relocation depended on p38-MAPK signaling and was associated with diminished capacity for long-term reconstitution upon transfer to irradiated mice. Deletion of Gata3 enhanced repopulating capacity and augmented self-renewal of long term HSC in cell-autonomous fashion, without affecting cell cycle. These observations position Gata3 as a regulator of the balance between self-renewal and differentiation in HSC acting downstream of the p38 signaling pathway.