A role for niches in hematopoietic cell development

Stem cells reside in a physical niche, a particular microenvironment. The organization of cellular niches has been shown to play a key role in regulating normal stem cell differentiation, maintenance and regeneration.Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) emerge at distinct allocation territories during ontogenesis, notably the aorto-gonadal region, the fetal liver. Adult HSC expand and differentiate exclusively in the bone marrow (BM). They can be mobilized into the blood stream. This implies that stem cells are not autonomous units of development; rather, tissue specific niches control their destiny. Interaction of HSCs with their stem cell niches is critical for adult hematopoiesis in the BM. A niche is composed of stromal cells, which either through direct cell-to-cell contact or via release of soluble factors maintain the typical features of stem cells, mainly stem cell quiescence, maintenance or expansion. HSCs are keeping the balance of the quiescence and the self-renewal in the stem cell niche, and are maintaining long-term hematopoiesis.Therefore, an understanding of cellular and chemical architecture of the stem cell niche is vital in understanding stem cell behavior. This review summarizes the recent developments in our understanding of the stem cell niche with particular focus on the HSC niche.