Prdm16 is a critical regulator of adult long-term hematopoietic stem cell quiescence

Significance Regulation of quiescence is critical for the maintenance of adult HSCs, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Using a novel mouse conditional knockout allele of transcription factor gene Prdm16 , we show that its deletion in the adult hematopoietic system led to a gradual loss of adult HSCs over time. This loss of adult HSCs was associated with their significantly increased cycling. We further found that Prdm16 promotes the quiescence of adult HSCs by activating the transcription of HSC cell cycle inhibitors including Cdkn1a and Egr1 . Our study identifies Prdm16 as a critical regulator of adult HSC quiescence.