It governs several pivotal genes implicated in myeloid cell proliferation and apoptosis, inhibiting cell growth and promoting apoptosis.175,176 The absence of IRF8 disrupts the myeloid differentiation program, skewing differentiation towards granulocytes and culminating in a CML-like syndrome. This evidence concerns the gene IRF8 and chronic myelogenous leukemia, BCR-ABL1 positive.