title: Primer and interviews: The dynamic stem cell niche.
abstract: A stem cell niche is a microenvironment that supports self-renewal of a population of stem cells, and their production of differentiated cells. While the definition evokes images of a stem cell Shangri-La-where a serene stem cell pool nestles within a niche that shelters and sustains it-the reality is much more tumultuous. Niches are subject to an ever-changing maelstrom of environmental factors, the ravages of old age, and the sly tactics of disease. Presented here is a basic overview of the different ways in which stem cell niches respond to local and systemic environments, and their impact on stem cell behavior. The primer culminates with a discussion of the topic with stem cell and niche biologists D. Leanne Jones, Ph.D., and Tudorita Tumbar, Ph.D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 401 MREB, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. jkiefer@neuro.utah.edu
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kiefer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism