Hmgb3: an HMG-box family member expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells that inhibits myeloid and B-cell differentiation

Hmgb3 is a member of a family of chromatin-binding proteins that can alter DNA structure to facilitate transcription factor binding. We identified the Hmgb3 cDNA in a subtractive hybridization screen for transcripts that are preferentially expressed in hematopoletic stem cells. We inserted an internal ribosomal entry site-green fluorescence protein cassette into the 3' untranslated region of the X-linked Hmgb3 locus to identify Hmgb3-expressing cells. In adult mice, Hmgb3 mRNA is detected in bone marrow cells, primitive Lin(-), c-kit(+), Sca-1(+), IL-7Ralpha(-) cells, and Ter119(+) erythroid cells. We observed that long-term repopulating ability is entirely contained in the subpopulation of Lin(-), c-kit(HI) cells that express Hmgb3. Most common lymphoid and myeloid progenitors express Hmgb3. Introduction of a retrovirus containing the Hmgb3 cDNA into mouse bone marrow stem cells demonstrated that enforced expression of Hmgb3 inhibited B-cell and myeloid differentiation. We conclude that down-regulation of Hmgb3 protein levels is an important step for myeloid and B-cell differentiation. (C) 2003 by The American Society of Hematology.