[Correlation of bone marrow stromal cells to leukemia and its research advancement in gene therapy for leukemia]

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have a pluripotent characteristic, and can be readily isolated and expanded in vitro. After in vivo transplantation, BMSCs can home to blood marrow, and survive for a long time by self-renewing. They can influence the biological characteristics of leukemia cells from several aspects, and participate in the outbreak process and pathologic process of leukemia. BMSCs with normal functions have direct antitumur effects on leukemic cells. They can regulate the immunity remarkably. Genetically engineered BMSCs can deliver target therapeutic proteins over sufficient time after in vivo transplantation. Thus, BMSCs are considered to be an ideal therapeutic cell vehicle and target cells in the gene therapy for leukemia. Interferons, a cytokines family, are capable of producing multiplex biological effects, and have remarkable curative effects on hair cell leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Here we reviewed the possibility and perspective of molecular target therapy for leukemia by interferons-modified BMSCs.