Metabolic regulation in erythroid differentiation by systemic ketogenesis in fasted mice

Systemic ketogenesis affects murine erythroid differentiation under fasting condition, while less ketone body β OHB boosts fatty acid synthesis and mevalonate pathway along with decreased levels of histone acetylation, which are beneficial for erythroid differentiation and maturation undergoing stressed erythropoiesis. Abstract Erythroid terminal differentiation and maturation depends on enormous energy supply. During periods of fasting, ketone bodies from the liver are transported into circulation and utilized as crucial fuel for peripheral tissues. However, the effects of fasting or ketogenesis on erythroid behavior remain unknown. Here, we generated a mouse model with insufficient ketogenesis by conditionally knocking out the gene encoding the hepatocyte-specific ketogenic enzyme hydroxymethylglutary-CoA synthase 2 ( Hmgcs2 KO). Intriguingly, erythroid maturation was enhanced with boosted fatty acid synthesis in bone marrow of hepatic Hmgcs2 KO mouse under fasting condition, suggesting that systemic ketogenesis has a profound effect on erythropoiesis. Moreover, we observed significantly activated fatty acids synthesis and mevalonate pathway along with reduced histone acetylation in immature erythrocytes under less systemic ketogenesis condition. Our findings revealed an innovative insight to erythroid differentiation, in which metabolic homeostasis and histone acetylation mediated by ketone bodies are essential factors in adaptation towards nutrient deprivation and stressed erythropoiesis. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.