Abstract
From the discovery of the first line of human embryonic stem cells, thousands of studies have been published concerning adult stem cells and their possible alleged therapeutic potential. However, very little real progress has been made in the application of cell therapy to patients. We can conclude that there remains a great deal for us to learn about the biology of stem cells, and especially, the mechanisms that regulate their differentiation and use under conditions of biosafety. In this chapter, we are going to review some of the mechanisms that seem to control the biology of stem cells, in particular the microenvironments, also called niches, where they house and which exert a strong influence over them. The regulation, survival, proliferation and differentiation of stem cells is ultimately determined by a combination of factors intrinsic to the stem cells themselves and extrinsic signals received from the microenvironment. A better understanding of the cellular components of microenvironments and their cellular and molecular interactions with the other components of the niche, including the stem cells themselves, will be key to make progress in this field.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Gonczy P. Mechanisms of asymmetric cell division: flies and worms pave the way. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2008; 9:355–366.
Knoblich JA. Mechanisms of asymmetric stem cell division. Cell 2008; 132:583–597.
Morrison SJ, Spradling AC. Stem cells and niches: mechanisms that promote stem cell maintenance throughout life.Cell 2008; 132:598–611.
Fuller MT, Spradling AC. Male and female Drosophila germline stem cells: two versions of immortality. Science 2007; 316:402–404.
Yamashita YM, Fuller MT, Jones DL. Signaling in stem cell niches: lessons from the Drosophila germline. J Cell Sci 2005; 118:665–672.
Xie T, Li L. Stem cells and their niche: an inseparable relationship. Development 2007; 134:2001–2006.
Taupin P. Adult neural stem cells, neurogenic niches, and cellular therapy. Stem Cell Rev 2006; 2:213–219.
Lim DA, Huang YC, Alvarez-Buylla A. The adult neural stem cell niche: lessons for future neural cell replacement strategies. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2007; 18:81–92.
Pardal R. Understanding our own neural stem cells in situ: can we benefit from them?. Front Biosci 2007; 12:3125–3132.
Shetty AK, Hattiangady B, Shetty GA. Stem/progenitor cell proliferation factors FGF-2, IGF-1, and VEGF exhibit early decline during the course of aging in the hippocampus: role of astrocytes. Glia 2005; 51: 173–186.
Alexson TO, Hitoshi S, Coles BL et al. Notch signaling is required to maintain all neural stem cell Populations—irrespective of spatial or temporal niche. Dev Neurosci 2006; 28:34–48.
Mizutani K, Yoon K, Dang L et al. Differential Notch signalling distinguishes neural stem cells from intermediate progenitors. Nature 2007; 449:351–355.
Castelo-Branco G, Arenas E. Function of Wnts in dopaminergic neuron development. Neurodegener Dis 2006; 3:5–11.
Lai K, Kaspar BK, Gage FH et al. Sonic hedgehog regulates adult neural progenitor proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Nat Neurosci 2003; 6:21–27.
Palma V, Lim DA, Dahmane N et al. Sonic hedgehog controls stem cell behavior in the postnatal and adult brain. Development 2005; 132:335–344.
Li L, Xie T. Stem cell niche: structure and function. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2005; 21:605–631.
Adams GB, Scadden DT. The hematopoietic stem cell in its place. Nat Immunol 2006; 7:333–337.
Li Z, Li L. Understanding hematopoietic stem-cell microenvironments. Trends Biochem Sci 2006; 31: 589–595.
Wilson A, Trumpp A. Bone-marrow haematopoietic-stem-cell niches. Nat Rev Immunol 2006; 6:93–106.
Kaplan RN, Psaila B, Lyden D. Niche-to-niche migration of bone-marrow-derived cells. Trends Mol Med 2007; 13:72–81.
Kiel MJ, Morrison SJ. Uncertainty in the niches that maintain haematopoietic stem cells. Nat Rev Immunol 2008; 8:290–301.
Scadden DT. Circadian rhythms: stem cells traffic in time. Nature 2008; 452:416–417.
Nagasawa T. New niches for B cells. Nat Immunol 2008; 9:345–346.
Trumpp A, Essers M, Wilson A. Awakering dormant haematopoietic stem cells. Nat Rev Immunol 2010; 10:201–209.
Chan Ch, Chen Ch-Ch, Luppen CA et al. Endochondral ossification is required for haematopoietic stem cell niche formation. Nature 2009; 457:490–495.
Sacchetti B, Funar A, Michienzi S et al. Self-renewing osteoprogenitors in bone marrow sinusoids can organize a haematopoietic microenvironment. Cell 2007; 131:324–336.
Zapata AG, Torroba M, Vicente A et al. The relevance of cell microenvironments for the appearance of lympho-haemopoietic tissues in primitive vertebrates. Histol Histopathol 1995; 10:761–778.
Katayama Y, Battista M, Kao WM et al. Signals from the sympathetic nervous system regulate hematopoietic stem cell egress from bone marrow. Cell 2006; 124:407–421.
Mendez-Ferrer S, Lucas D, Battista M et al. Haematopoietic stem cell release is regulated by circadian oscillations. Nature 2008; 452:442–447.
Chakroborty D, Chowdhury UR, Sarkar Ch et al. Dopamine regulates endothelial progenitor cell mobilization from mouse bone marrow in tumor vascularisation. J Clin Invest 2008; 118:1380–1389.
Klassert TE, Patel SA, Rameshwar P. Tachykinins and neurokinin receptors in bone marrow functions: neural-hematopoietic link. J Recept, Ligand and Channel Res 2010; 3:51–61.
Zapata AG. Stem cell populations in adult bone marrow: Phenotypes and biological relevance for production of somatic stem cell. In: Simón C, Pellicer A, eds. Stem Cells in Human Reproduction, 2nd edition. London: Informa Healthcare, 2009:177–187.
Morikawa S, Mabuchi Y, Kubota Y et al. Prospective identification, isolation, and systemic transplantation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells in murine bone marrow. J Exp Med 2009; 206:2483–2496.
Crisan M, Yap S, Casteilla L et al. A perivascular origin for mesenchymal stem cells in multiple human organs. Cell Stem Cell 2008; 3:301–313.
Naveiras O, Nardi V, Wenzel PL et al. Bone marrow adipocytes as negative regulators of the haematopoietic microenvironment. Nature 2009; 460:259–263.
Chitteti BR, Cheng YH, Poteat B et al. Impact of interactions of cellular components of the bone marrow microenvironment on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function. Blood 2010; 115:3239–3248.
Dzierzak E, Speck NA. Of lineage and legacy: the development of mammalian hematopoietic stem cells. Nat Immunol 2008; 9:129–136.
Carlson ME, Conboy IM. Loss of stem cell regenerative capacity within aged niches. Aging Cell 2007; 6:371–382.
Mayack SR, Shadrach JL, Kim FS et al. Systemic signals regulate ageing and rejuvenation of blood stem cell niches. Nature 2010; 483:495–501.
Perry JM, Li L. Disrupting the stem cell niche: good seeds in bad soil. Cell 2007; 129:1045–1047.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Zapata, A.G., Alfaro, D., García-Ceca, J. (2012). Biology of Stem Cells: The Role of Microenvironments. In: López-Larrea, C., López-Vázquez, A., Suárez-Álvarez, B. (eds) Stem Cell Transplantation. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 741. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2098-9_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2098-9_10
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-2097-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-2098-9
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)