PHF6: it is written in the stem cells

In the current issue of Blood, Miyagi et al investigated the role of the plant homeodomain-like finger protein 6 (PHF6) in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal in an attempt to further clarify the previously suggested tumor suppressive role of this protein in human leukemia. 1 Interestingly, Phf6 ablation rendered HSCs less responsive to inflammatory stress signals, but was able to increase HSCs proliferation rates, which might, at least in part, contribute to oncogenic transformation (see figure).