title: The human and murine hematopoietic stem cell niches: are they comparable?
abstract: Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in specific niches that provide various instructive cues that regulate HSC self-renewal and their development into all mature cells of the peripheral blood. Progress in this research field has largely been guided by mouse studies. However, parallel studies with human subjects, tissues, and cells, in combination with xenotransplantation experiments in immunodeficient mice, have contributed to our increased understanding of the human HSC niche. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of the various specialized subsets of both stromal and hematopoietic cells that support HSCs through cell-cell interactions and secreted factors, and the many parallels between the murine and human HSC niches. Furthermore, we discuss recent technological advances that are likely to improve our understanding of the human HSC niche, a better understanding of which may allow further identification of unique molecular and cellular pathways in the HSC niche. This information may help to further improve the outcome of HSC transplantation and refine the treatment of hematopoietic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Pel
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Fibbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schepers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000502:physiology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
keywords: coculture; hematopoietic stem cells; mesenchymal stromal cell; stem cell niche; xenograft model