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Bioengineering of Humanized Bone Marrow Microenvironments in Mouse and Their Visualization by Live Imaging
Published on: August 1, 2017
Human CD133-derived bone marrow stromal cells establish ectopic hematopoietic microenvironments in immunodeficient
Benjamin Bakondi1, Jeffrey L Spees
1Department of Medicine, Stem Cell Core, University of Vermont, 208 South Park Drive, Suite 2, Colchester, VT 05446, USA.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|August 20, 2010
Summary
Prominin-1 (CD133) expression identifies human bone marrow stem cells that form hematopoietic microenvironments. These CD133-positive cells generate stromal cells supporting blood cell formation in mice.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Hematopoiesis
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) can form hematopoietic microenvironments (HMEs).
- The specific stem/progenitor cell surface markers for BMSCs supporting hematopoiesis are not well-defined.
- Prominin-1 (CD133) is expressed on various stem cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the native human bone marrow stem/progenitor cell responsible for forming HMEs.
- To characterize the phenotype of BMSCs capable of supporting hematopoiesis.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic cell sorting was used to isolate CD133-positive cells from human bone marrow.
- CD133-positive cells were cultured into CD133BMSCs and characterized for cell surface markers (CD146).
- CD133BMSCs were seeded into biomaterial constructs and implanted subcutaneously in immunodeficient mice to assess HME formation.
Main Results:
- CD133BMSCs formed ectopic HMEs in mice, supporting murine hematopoiesis.
- These BMSCs differentiated into osteocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes, and reticular cells.
- Control constructs with dermal fibroblasts did not form HMEs, highlighting the specificity of BMSCs.
Conclusions:
- CD133 expression identifies a key human bone marrow stem/progenitor cell population that generates BMSCs.
- These CD133-derived BMSCs are capable of forming functional HMEs that support hematopoiesis.
- CD146 expression is a marker for self-renewing osteoprogenitor cells within the CD133BMSC population.

