Adhesion, migration, and homing of murine hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors

Recent advances in cell biology have demonstrated the role of multiple signaling proteins in the transduction of external signals to cytoplasmic and nuclear effectors, controlling the movement and/or retention of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors (HSC/P) within the bone marrow, with important clinical implications. Multiple assays have become routine in the analysis of adhesion to the microenvironment, migration toward chemoattractant gradients, and homing of HSC/P in the bone marrow in vivo. In this chapter, we analyze some of the most frequently used assays in our laboratory to explore the ability of HSC to migrate, adhere, and home in in vitro and in vivo assays.