Mesenchymal cell contributions to the stem cell niche.
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are heterogeneous and primitive cells discovered first in the bone marrow (BM). They have putative roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis and are increasingly recognized as components of stem cell niches, which are best defined in the blood. The absence of in vivo MSC markers has limited our ability to track their behavior in vivo and draw comparisons with in vitro observations. Here we review the historical background of BM-MSCs, advances made in their prospective isolation, their developmental origin and contribution to maintaining subsets of hematopoietic cells, and how mesenchymal cells contribute to other stem cell niches.
Center for Regenerative Medicine and MGH Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Youmna
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Kfoury
Center for Regenerative Medicine and MGH Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: david_scadden@harvard.edu.
David T
DT
Scadden
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000502:physiology*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation