Skeletal stem cell niche of the bone marrow

Janeczek, Agnieszka Aleksandra, Scarpa, Edoardo, Newman, Tracey, Oreffo, Richard, Tare, Rahul and Evans, Nicholas (2015) Skeletal stem cell niche of the bone marrow. In, Turksen, Kursad (ed.) Tissue-Specific Stem Cell Niche: Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Springer, Cham, pp. 245-279.

Abstract

Mammalian bone marrow is a complex organ responsible for a variety of critical homeostatic functions, including haematopoiesis. To achieve these functions, it has evolved to provide an environment for the habitation of stem cells—the bone marrow ‘stem cell niche’. In addition to haematopoetic stem cells, which are responsible for generating all cell lineages of the mammalian blood, recent evidence suggests that this same niche may provide an environment for the putative skeletal stem cell, responsible for forming the connective tissues of the skeleton—bone, cartilage and fat. In this chapter, we review recent research on the importance of skeletal stem cells and bone marrow stromal cells and their spatial localisation within the bone marrow. We discuss their role in providing a supportive microenvironment for the maintenance of haematopoetic stem cells, and some of their key molecular interactions via cell surface ligands, secreted growth factors, extracellular matrix and other physiocochemical means. We also discuss some of the pathologies that might arise from dysregulation of the niche, particularly with regard to ageing. Finally, we review recent attempts to recreate the bone marrow microenvironment in vitro.

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Contributors

Author: Tracey Newman

Author: Richard Oreffo

Author: Rahul Tare

Author: Nicholas Evans

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