Skip to main content

What Is a Stem Cell Niche?

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop ((SCHERING FOUND,volume 60))

Abstract

Niche has become the most important issue in stem cell biology, but it is still a hypothetical notion that cannot be defined in a better way than the microenvironment surrounding stem cells. Using a melanocyte stem cell system as a model, we have analyzed the cellular and molecular requirements for differentiation of quiescent stem cells. Our results demonstrate the multiple subsets within the stem cell compartment and thus suggests the complexity of niche.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alonso L, Fuchs E (2003) Stem cells of the skin epithelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100:11830–11835

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arai F, Hirao A, Ohmura M, Sato H, Matsuoka S, Takubo K, Ito K, Koh GY, Suda T (2004) Tie2/angiopoietin-1 signaling regulates hematopoietic stem cell quiescence in the bone marrow niche. Cell 118:149–161

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calvi LM, Adams GB, Weibrecht KW, Weber JM, Olson DP, Knight MC, Martin RP, Schipani E, Divieti P, Bringhurst FR et al. (2003) Osteoblastic cells regulate the haematopoietic stem cell niche. Nature 425:841–846

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gambardella L, Barrandon Y (2003) The multifaceted adult epidermal stem cell. Curr Opin Cell Biol 15:771–777

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoek K, Rimm DL, Williams KR, Zhao H, Ariyan S, Lin A, Kluger HM, Berger AJ, Cheng E, Trombetta ES et al. (2004) Expression profiling reveals novel pathways in the transformation of melanocytes to melanomas. Cancer Res 64:5270–5282

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jahoda CA, Horne KA, Oliver RF (1984) Induction of hair growth by implantation of cultured dermal papilla cells. Nature 311:560–562

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kishimoto J, Burgeson RE, Morgan BA (2000) Wnt signaling maintains the hair-inducing activity of the dermal papilla. Genes Dev 14:1181–1185

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lang D, Lu MM, Huang L, Engleka KA, Zhang M, Chu EY, Lipner S, Skoultchi A, Millar SE, Epstein JA (2005) Pax3 functions at a nodal point in melanocyte stem cell differentiation. Nature 433:884–887

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marshman E, Booth C, Potten CS (2002) The intestinal epithelial stem cell. Bioessays 24:91–98

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moriyama M, Osawa M, Siu-Shan M et al. (2006) Notch signaling via Hes1 transcription factor maintains survival of melanoblasts and melanocyte stem cells. J Cell Biol, in press

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura EK, Granter SR, Fisher DE (2005) Mechanisms of hair graying: incomplete melanocyte stem cell maintenance in the niche. Science 307:720–724

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura EK, Jordan SA, Oshima H, Yoshida H, Osawa M, Moriyama M, Jackson IJ, Barrandon Y, Miyachi Y, Nishikawa S (2002) Dominant role of the niche in melanocyte stem-cell fate determination. Nature 416:854–860

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Potten CS, Booth C, Tudor GL, Booth D, Brady G, Hurley P, Ashton G, Clarke R, Sakakibara S, Okano H (2003) Identification of a putative intestinal stem cell and early lineage marker; musashi-1. Differentiation 71:28–41

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saito H, Yasumoto K, Takeda K, Takahashi K, Yamamoto H, Shibahara S (2003) Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor in the Wnt signaling pathway. Pigment Cell Res 16:261–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suda T, Arai F, Hirao A (2005) Hematopoietic stem cells and their niche. Trends Immunol 26:426–433

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida H, Kunisada T, Kusakabe M, Nishikawa S, Nishikawa SI (1996) Distinct stages of melanocyte differentiation revealed by analysis of nonuniform pigmentation patterns. Development 122:1207–1214

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Niu C, Ye L, Huang H, He X, Tong WG, Ross J, Haug J, Johnson T, Feng JQ et al. (2003) Identification of the haematopoietic stem cell niche and control of the niche size. Nature 425:836–841

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Nishikawa, S.I., Osawa, M. (2006). What Is a Stem Cell Niche?. In: Morser, J., Nishikawa, S.I., Schöler, H.R. (eds) Stem Cells in Reproduction and in the Brain. Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop, vol 60. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31437-7_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics