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Stem cells

IRE1α–XBP1 moonlighting to restrict leukemia

Nature Immunology (2025)Cite this article

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IRE1α–XBP1 safeguards hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells by repressing pro-leukemogenic programs, independent of the unfolded protein response. A treatment strategy for acute myeloid leukemia could involve activation of the IRE1α–XBP1 axis to suppress WNT/β-catenin signaling.

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Fig. 1: IRE1α–XBP1 signaling inhibits pro-tumorigenic programs to safeguard against AML.

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Acknowledgements

S.Z.X. thanks J. C. Y. Wang, M. D. Minden and M. S. Nagree for comments. S.Z.X. is supported by funds from the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

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  1. Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Stephanie Z. Xie

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  1. Stephanie Z. Xie
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Correspondence to Stephanie Z. Xie.

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Xie, S.Z. IRE1α–XBP1 moonlighting to restrict leukemia. Nat Immunol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-02061-y

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