Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To review the research progress of osteoblasts in the hematopoietic microenvironment of bone marrow and regulatory pathways and mechanisms.

METHODS:

The advances in the osteoblasts as crucial components for hematopoietic microenvironment in bone marrow, regulation to osteoblasts and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and correlative singal pathways and mechanisms were introduced based on the recent related literature.

RESULTS:

Evidence indicates that osteoblasts are crucial components of the hematopoietic microenvironments in adult bone marrow. The osteoblasts maintain the quiescence of primitive HSCs by the signaling receptors-ligands, secreted cell factors and cell-adhesion molecules and by regulating other cells in the niche. The quiescent primitive HSCs persist stem cell characteristic which has unlimited selfrenewal and multipotent differentiation potential.

CONCLUSION:

The further understanding of the relationship between osteoblasts and hematopoietic microenvironment should lead to development of new strategies directed toward clinical therapeutics of HSCs transplantation.