Nitric oxide depletion alters hematopoietic stem cell commitment toward immunogenic dendritic cells

► We investigated the contribution of NO during the differentiation of human CD34+HSCs toward i-DCs. ► We found a peak of NO production at the time of stem cell commitment. ► The inhibition of NOS isoforms impaired the differentiation process of i-DCs from CD34+HSCs. ► The depletion of NO preserved the stem cell in a commitment stage for a long time in culture. ► The depletion of NO retrieved the clonogenic ability of cytokine induced CD34+HSCs.