Open AccessThe Role of Osteoblasts in the Hematopoietic Microenvironment
Author(s) -
Taichman Russell S.,
Emerson Stephen G.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.160007
Subject(s) - haematopoiesis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bone marrow , osteoclast , osteoblast , stem cell , hematopoietic stem cell , in vitro , immunology , genetics
Hematopoietic stem cell differentiation occurs in direct proximity to osteoblasts within the bone marrow cavity. Despite this striking affiliation, surprisingly little is known about the precise cellular and molecular impact of osteoblasts on the bone marrow microenvironment. Recently, it has been proposed that human osteoblasts support the growth of primitive human hematopoietic cells in vitro and possibly in vivo. Evidence to support this hypothesis is reviewed as follows: the influence of osteoblasts on osteoclast development; the participation of osteoblasts in long‐term bone marrow cultures; the production of positive hematopoietic regulatory molecules by osteoblasts; the production of cell‐cycle inhibitory factors by osteoblasts, and cell‐cell interactions between early hematopoietic cells and osteoblasts.