title: Delta-like homologue 1 and its role in the bone marrow niche and hematologic malignancies.
abstract: Delta-like homologue 1 (DLK1) is an imprinted gene, that acts as a Notch pathway antagonist. It is deregulated in solid and blood cancers, conferring malignant cells a cancer stem cell-like phenotype. DLK1 is important for normal hematopoiesis and for bone marrow homeostasis, because it directly affects the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into the nonhematopoietic components. It is possible that the resulting abnormal biology of mesenchymal stem cells promotes leukemic blasts survival providing also a sanctuary against chemotherapeutic agents. In this review, the effects of DLK1 on mesenchymal stem cells and the bone marrow microenvironment with perspectives are discussed.
authors: Blood Bank, General Hospital of Preveza, Preveza, Greece. Electronic address: benetatosleon@yahoo.com.
authors: Leonidas
authors: L
authors: Benetatos
authors: Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors: Eleftheria
authors: E
authors: Hatzimichael
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000235:genetics*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C512941:DLK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins
keywords: DLK1; Hematopoietic stem cells; Leukemia; Mesenchymal stem cells; Stroma