The core-binding factor β subunit is required for bone formation and hematopoietic maturation

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Abstract
Core-binding factor β (Cbfβ) is the common non-DNA-binding subunit of the Cbf family of heterodimeric transcription factors. Mice deficient in Cbfβ have a severe block in fetal liver hematopoiesis at the stage of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) emergence1,2. Here we show that by providing Cbfβ function in endothelial cells and hematopoietic progenitors we can rescue fetal liver hematopoiesis in Cbfβ-deficient embryos. The rescued mice die at birth, however, with severe defects in skeletal development, though intramembranous ossification occurs to some extent. Fetal liver hematopoiesis is restored at embryonic day (E) 12.5, but by E17.5 significant impairments in lymphopoiesis and myelopoiesis are observed. Thus, we conclude that the Cbfβ subunit is required for HSC emergence, bone formation and normal differentiation of lymphoid and myeloid lineage cells.