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Differential requirements for Wnt and Notch signaling in hematopoietic versus thymic niches
Author(s) -
Roozen Paul P.C.,
Brugman Martijn H.,
Staal Frank J.T.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06626.x
Subject(s) - haematopoiesis , wnt signaling pathway , notch signaling pathway , biology , niche , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , signal transduction , ecology , stem cell
All blood cells are derived from multipotent stem cells, the so‐called hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), that in adults reside in the bone marrow. Most types of blood cells also develop there, with the notable exception of T lymphocytes that develop in the thymus. For both HSCs and developing T cells, interactions with the surrounding microenvironment are critical in regulating maintenance, differentiation, apoptosis, and proliferation. Such specialized regulatory microenvironments are referred to as niches and provide both soluble factors as well as cell–cell interactions between niche component cells and blood cells. Two pathways that are critical for early T cell development in the thymic niche are Wnt and Notch signaling. These signals also play important but controversial roles in the HSC niche. Here, we review the differences and similarities between the thymic and hematopoietic niches, with particular focus on Wnt and Notch signals, as well as the latest insights into regulation of these developmentally important pathways.