A PML-PPAR-δ pathway for fatty acid oxidation regulates hematopoietic stem cell maintenance

Keisuke Ito et al. uncover a new pathway regulating hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and function. In this pathway, the promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) regulates the activity of the PPAR-δ nuclear hormone receptor and, thereby, fatty acid oxidation, such that PPAR-δ activators have the potential of improving stem cell function. Intriguingly, this pathway controls the cell fate of dividing stem cells.