Mesenchymal stem cells as an essential hematopoietic stem cell niche component

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are capable of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation, which are characteristics that enable them to maintain the stem cell population and produce large numbers of blood cells. Quiescent mammalian adult HSCs localize within the bone marrow niche, primarily in the endosteal region of the trabecular bone. These cells scarcely participate in the cell cycle, but are instead maintained by assorted niche cells within the bone marrow, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This review summarizes the crucial role(s) that MSCs play as niche cells for the support of HSCs.