Go to JCI Insight
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Alerts
  • Advertising/recruitment
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Neuroscience
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • Vascular biology
    • All ...
  • Videos
    • Conversations with Giants in Medicine
    • Author's Takes
  • Reviews
    • View all reviews ...
    • 100th Anniversary of Insulin's Discovery (Jan 2021)
    • Hypoxia-inducible factors in disease pathophysiology and therapeutics (Oct 2020)
    • Latency in Infectious Disease (Jul 2020)
    • Immunotherapy in Hematological Cancers (Apr 2020)
    • Big Data's Future in Medicine (Feb 2020)
    • Mechanisms Underlying the Metabolic Syndrome (Oct 2019)
    • Reparative Immunology (Jul 2019)
    • View all review series ...
  • Viewpoint
  • Collections
    • Recently published
    • In-Press Preview
    • Commentaries
    • Concise Communication
    • Editorials
    • Viewpoint
    • Top read articles
  • Clinical Medicine
  • JCI This Month
    • Current issue
    • Past issues

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • Reviews
  • Review series
  • Conversations with Giants in Medicine
  • Author's Takes
  • Recently published
  • In-Press Preview
  • Commentaries
  • Concise Communication
  • Editorials
  • Viewpoint
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Alerts
  • Advertising/recruitment
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
The stem cell niches in bone
Tong Yin, Linheng Li
Tong Yin, Linheng Li
Published May 1, 2006
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2006;116(5):1195-1201. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI28568.
View: Text | PDF
Review Series

The stem cell niches in bone

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

The stem cell niche is composed of a specialized population of cells that plays an essential role in regulating adult stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. In adults, osteoblasts, responsible for osteogenesis, and hematopoietic cells, responsible for hematopoiesis, are closely associated in the bone marrow, suggesting a reciprocal relationship between the two. It was recently discovered that a subset of osteoblasts functions as a key component of the HSC niche (namely, the osteoblastic niche), controlling HSC numbers. HSCs interact not only with osteoblasts but also with other stromal cells, including endothelial cells. Sinusoidal endothelial cells in bone marrow have been revealed as an alternative HSC niche called the vascular niche. In this Review we compare the architecture of these 2 HSC niches in bone marrow. We also highlight the function of osteoblasts in maintaining a quiescent HSC microenvironment and the likely role of the vascular niche in regulating stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and mobilization. In addition, we focus on studies of animal models and in vitro assays that have provided direct insights into the actions of these osteoblastic and vascular niches, revealing central roles for numerous signaling and adhesion molecules. Many of the discoveries described herein may contribute to future clinical treatments for hematopoietic and bone-related disorders, including cancer.

Authors

Tong Yin, Linheng Li

×

Figure 1

Hematopoiesis of bone cells and marrow stromal cells.

Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
Hematopoiesis of bone cells and marrow stromal cells.
In the bone marrow...
In the bone marrow HSCs reside either next to osteoblasts on the endosteal niche or adjacent to endothelial cells of sinusoidal vessels. Upon each division, 1 daughter cell leaves the bone to proliferate and differentiate into various lineages. HSCs and their progeny are surrounded by stromal cells derived from MSCs, which also reside in the bone cavity. MSCs give rise to chondrocytes, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, adipocytes, endothelium, and myocytes. Osteoblasts (expressing M-CSF, RANKL, and OPG and producing IL-7) may regulate lymphoid (expressing IL-7R) and osteoclast (derived from monocytes, expressing the M-CSF ligand c-Fms and RANK) cell development. CMP, common myeloid progenitor; CLP, common lymphoid progenitor; GMP, granulocyte/macrophage progenitor; MKEP, megakaryocyte erythroid progenitor; MPP, multipotent progenitor stem cell; OC, osteoclast progenitor; SNO cell, spindle-shaped N-cadherin+CD45– osteoblastic cell; TBA, trabecular bone area.
Follow JCI:
Copyright © 2021 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

Sign up for email alerts