Zfat Is Indispensable for the Development of Erythroid Cells in the Fetal Liver

BACKGROUND/AIM: In mice, fetal liver is the first tissue of definitive erythropoiesis for definitive erythroid expansion and maturation. ZFAT, originally identified as a candidate susceptibility gene for autoimmune thyroid disease, has been reported to be involved in primitive hematopoiesis and T cell development. The aim of this study was to examine whether or not Zfat is involved in definitive erythropoiesis in the fetal liver during mammalian development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The role of Zfat during mouse fetal erythropoiesis in the fetal liver was examined using tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2 Zfat-deficient mice. RESULTS: Zfat-deficient mice exhibit moderate anemia with small and pale fetal liver through a decreased number of erythroblasts by E12.5. Apoptosis sensitivity in fetal liver erythroid progenitors was enhanced by Zfat-deficiency ex vivo. Moreover, Zfat knockdown partially inhibited CD71-/lowTer119- to CD71highTer119- transition of fetal liver erythroid progenitors with impairment in the elevation of CD71 expression. CONCLUSION: Zfat plays a critical role for erythropoiesis in the fetal liver.