Genetic manipulation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells is an important tool for experimental and clinical applied hematology. However, techniques that allow for gene targeting, subsequent in vitro selection, and expansion of genetically defined clones are available only for ES cells. Such molecularly defined and, hence, ''safe'' clones would be highly desirable for somatic gene therapy. Here, we demonstrate that in vitro differentiated ES cells completely recapitulate the growth and differentiation properties of adult bone marrow cells, in vitro and in vivo, when ectopically expressing HOXB4. Myeloid development was enforced and (T) lymphoid development suppressed over a wide range of expression levels, whereas only high expression levels of the transcription factor were detrimental for erythroid development. This indicates a close association between the amounts of ectopic HOXB4 present within a progenitor cell and and the decision to self renew or differentiate. Because HOXB4 mediates similar fates of ES-derived and bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells, the primitive embryonic cells can be considered a promising alternative for investigating hematopoietic reconstitution, in vivo, based on well defined clones. Provided that HOXB4 levels are kept within a certain therapeutic window, ES cells also carry the potential of efficient and safe somatic gene therapy.gene therapy ͉ hematopoiesis ͉ transplantation

Case fatality rates for severe malaria remain high even in the best clinical settings because antimalarial drugs act against the parasite without alleviating life-threatening inflammation. We assessed the potential for host-directed therapy of severe malaria of a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs, the innate defense regulator (IDR) peptides, based on host defense peptides. The Plasmodium berghei ANKA model of experimental cerebral malaria was adapted to use as a preclinical screen by combining late-stage intervention in established infections with advanced bioinformatic analysis of early transcriptional changes in co-regulated gene sets. Coadministration of IDR-1018 with standard first-line antimalarials increased survival of infected mice while down-regulating key inflammatory networks associated with fatality. Thus, IDR peptides provided host-directed adjunctive therapy for severe disease in combination with antimalarial treatment.