Rac and Cdc42 GTPases control hematopoietic stem cell shape, adhesion, migration, and mobilization

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.101546898
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:44:19Z
• Authors: F.-C. Yang; S. J. Atkinson; Y. Gu; J. B. Borneo; A. W. Roberts; Y. Zheng; J. Pennington; D. A. Williams
• Keywords: CDC42; Rac GTP-Binding Proteins; Hematopoietic stem cell; Homing (biology)

Critical to homeostasis of blood cell production by hematopoietic stem/progenitor (HSC/P) cells is the regulation HSC/P retention within bone marrow microenvironment and migration between blood. Key extracellular regulatory elements for this process have been defined (cell–cell adhesion, growth factors, chemokines), but mechanism which reconcile multiple external signals has not elucidated. Rac related small GTPases are candidates role were studied in deficient Rac2, a cell-specific family member. Rac2 appears be critical adhesion both vitro vivo , whereas compensatory increase Cdc42 activation regulates migration. This genetic analysis provides physiological evidence cross-talk GTPase proteins suggests that balance these two controls mobilization .