A novel role for the marrow microenvironment in initiating and sustaining hematopoietic disease.
BACKGROUND
The marrow microenvironment is composed of a complex network of cells and extra cellular matrix that cooperate to regulate normal hematopoiesis. There is growing evidence that microenvironmental defects can contribute to the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies.


OBJECTIVE
We review the role of the microenvironment in inducing and sustaining hematological malignancies.


CONCLUSIONS
Two basic mechanisms could explain the role of microenvironmental defects in the evolution of hematopoietic neoplasms. There is significant data to support the first mechanism, in which the malignant hematopoietic clone induces reversible functional changes in the microenvironment that result in improved growth conditions for the malignant cells. More recent studies from mouse models have indicated that a second mechanism involving primary microenvironmental defects can also result in malignancy.
Ramakrishnan
Aravind
A
University of Washington School of Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.
Deeg
H Joachim
HJ
D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology