Nature Immunology· 2026Q1
A CD4-lineage erythro–myeloid progenitor within the adult bone marrow defines an alternative pathway for macrophage generation
- 2citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Researchers identified a novel CD4-lineage erythro–myeloid progenitor (EMPROR) in adult bone marrow that generates macrophages independently of circulating monocytes, offering an alternative myelopoiesis pathway.
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Key points
- A novel CD4-lineage erythro–myeloid progenitor (EMPROR) has been identified in adult bone marrow.
- EMPROR cells are phenotypically and transcriptionally distinct from HSCs, CMPs, and monocyte precursors, expressing Cd4 and Kit while lacking Csf1r and Ccr2.
- These progenitors demonstrate multi-lineage potential, including macrophage, neutrophil, megakaryocyte, and erythroid differentiation.
- EMPROR cells generate perivascular and tumor-associated macrophages independently of CCR2-mediated monocyte recruitment.
- Transcriptomic analysis suggests EMPROR cells retain an embryonic-like program.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Tissue-resident macrophages originate from distinct developmental sources, but their adult replenishment is thought to depend exclusively on circulating monocytes. Here we identify a previously unrecognized CD4-lineage erythro–myeloid progenitor (EMPROR) in the adult bone marrow that provides an alternative pathway for macrophage generation. EMPROR cells are phenotypically and transcriptionally distinct from hematopoietic stem cells, common myeloid progenitors and monocyte precursors, lacking Csf1r and Ccr2 while expressing Cd4 and Kit . Single-cell RNA sequencing, RNA velocity analysis and lineage assays reveal macrophage, neutrophil, megakaryocytic and erythroid potential. EMPROR cells generate perivascular and tumor-associated macrophages independently of CCR2-mediated monocyte recruitment and contribute to erythroid and granulocytic lineages under inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Transcriptomic comparisons position EMPROR cells closest to embryonic erythro–myeloid progenitors, indicating the persistence of an embryonic-like program in adult bone marrow. These findings reveal an alternative pathway of adult myelopoiesis that sustains macrophage diversity beyond the classical monocyte lineage.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Nature Immunology, 2026 · DOI ↗
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ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology