Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Bioengineering of Humanized Bone Marrow Microenvironments in Mouse and Their Visualization by Live Imaging
Published on: August 1, 2017
The Bone Marrow Microenvironment for Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Daniel Lucas1,2,3
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. dlucasal@med.umich.edu.
The main function of the microenvironment in the bone marrow (BM) is to provide signals that regulate and support the production of the billions of blood cells necessary to maintain homeostasis. The best characterized BM microenvironment is the niche that regulates hematopoietic stem cells. Efforts from many different laboratories have revealed that the niche is mainly perivascular and that blood vessels and perivascular stromal cells are the key components. In addition numerous cell types have been shown to be components of the niche. Here we discuss our current understanding of the niche and the evidence supporting the role of different types of cells in regulating hematopoietic stem cell numbers and function in vivo.
The main function of the microenvironment in the bone marrow (BM) is to provide signals that regulate and support the production of the billions of blood cells necessary to maintain homeostasis. The best characterized BM microenvironment is the niche that regulates hematopoietic stem cells. Efforts from many different laboratories have revealed that the niche is mainly perivascular and that blood vessels and perivascular stromal cells are the key components. In addition numerous cell types have been shown to be components of the niche. Here we discuss our current understanding of the niche and the evidence supporting the role of different types of cells in regulating hematopoietic stem cell numbers and function in vivo.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Stem Cell Niche
Hematopoiesis
Overview of Hematopoiesis
Developmental Phases of Hematopoiesis
Initially, HSCs are formed in the embryonic yolk sac, a critical site for early blood cell production. These stem cells subsequently migrate to other...
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...

