title: Spatial gradients of blood vessels and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells within the marrow cavities of the human skeleton.
abstract: This report evaluates the spatial profile of blood vessel fragments (BVFs) and CD34(+) and CD117(+) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in human cancellous bone. Bone specimens were sectioned, immunostained (anti-CD34 and anti-CD117), and digitally imaged. Immunoreactive cells and vessels were then optically and morphometrically identified and labeled on the corresponding digital image. The distance of each BVF, or CD34(+) or CD117(+) HSPC to the nearest trabecular surface was measured and binned in 50-microm increments. The relative concentration of HSPCs and BVFs within cancellous marrow was observed to diminish with increasing distance in the marrow space. On average, 50% of the CD34(+) HSPC population, 60% of the CD117(+) HSPC population, and 72% of the BVFs were found within 100 microm of the bone surfaces. HSPCs were also found to exist in close proximity to BVFs, which supports the notion of a shared HSPC and vessel spatial niche.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Bourke
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Watchman
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Reith
authors.forename: Marda L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dieudonnè
authors.forename: Wesley E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Bolch
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D012272:Ribs / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit