The Dlk1-Gtl2 Locus Preserves LT-HSC Function by Inhibiting the PI3K-mTOR Pathway to Restrict Mitochondrial Metabolism

The mammalian imprinted Dlk1-Gtl2 locus produces multiple non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) from the maternally inherited allele, including the largest miRNA cluster in the mammalian genome. This locus has characterized functions in some types of stem cell, but its role in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is unknown. Here, we show that the Dlk1-Gtl2 locus plays a critical role in preserving long-term repopulating HSCs (LT-HSCs). Through transcriptome profiling in 17 hematopoietic cell types, we found that ncRNAs expressed from the Dlk1-Gtl2 locus are predominantly enriched in fetal liver HSCs and the adult LT-HSC population and sustain long-term HSC functionality. Mechanistically, the miRNA mega-cluster within the Dlk1-Gtl2 locus suppresses the entire PI3K-mTOR pathway. This regulation in turn inhibits mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolic activity and protects LT-HSCs from excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Our data therefore show that the imprinted Dlk1-Gtl2 locus preserves LT-HSC function by restricting mitochondrial metabolism. [Display omitted] •Transcriptome profiling reveals Gtl2-derived ncRNA enrichment in LT-HSCs•Loss of Dlk1-Gtl2 imprinting leads to functional defects in fetal liver HSCs•miRNAs of the Dlk1-Gtl2 locus suppress components of the entire PI3K-mTOR pathway•PI3K-mTOR inhibition restricts mitochondrial metabolism to preserve LT-HSC function Qian and colleagues show that ncRNAs expressed from the imprinted locus Dlk1-Gtl2 maintain fetal liver and adult LT-HSCs through multiplexed inhibition of PI3K-mTOR signaling that in turn keeps mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolic activity in check.