p38α-mediated purine metabolism is linked to exit from quiescence of hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are atop of a hierarchy of the hematopoietic and immune system, continuously replenishing short-lived mature blood and immune cells. Like other adult stem cells, HSCs have two key characteristics—self-renewal and the capacity to produce lineage-committed progenies (1). HSCs also adopt strategies throughout life to protect themselves from a variety of exogenic or endogenic threats to prevent their exhaustion (2).