Premium
The human and murine hematopoietic stem cell niches: are they comparable?
Author(s) -
Pel Melissa,
Fibbe Willem E.,
Schepers Koen
Publication year - 2016
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/nyas.12994
Subject(s) - haematopoiesis , niche , biology , stem cell , xenotransplantation , stromal cell , microbiology and biotechnology , hematopoietic stem cell , transplantation , immunology , cancer research , medicine , ecology , surgery
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in specific niches that provide various instructive cues that regulate HSC self‐renewal and their development into all mature cells of the peripheral blood. Progress in this research field has largely been guided by mouse studies. However, parallel studies with human subjects, tissues, and cells, in combination with xenotransplantation experiments in immunodeficient mice, have contributed to our increased understanding of the human HSC niche. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of the various specialized subsets of both stromal and hematopoietic cells that support HSCs through cell–cell interactions and secreted factors, and the many parallels between the murine and human HSC niches. Furthermore, we discuss recent technological advances that are likely to improve our understanding of the human HSC niche, a better understanding of which may allow further identification of unique molecular and cellular pathways in the HSC niche. This information may help to further improve the outcome of HSC transplantation and refine the treatment of hematopoietic diseases.