On the other hand, important key markers recently discovered in HSCs (such as HOXA9, SPINK2 and HLF) and HE (such as IL33) were not detectable in the HPC and AE of our in vitro model, indicating a lack of some aspects of bona fide HSC-competent HE and HSCs, at least at the BG-HFO stage analysed in this study42. This evidence concerns the gene HOXA9 and hereditary elliptocytosis.