In-vitro models of stroma-dependent lymphopoiesis

The differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into lymphocytes can be replicated ex vivo under the inductive influence of the stromal cells that frame the bone marrow and thymus. We summarize hereafter the development of culture systems where lymphopoiesis-supporting cell compartments are maintained in either their normal three-dimensional arrangement, in organotypic culture, or as culture dish-adherent monolayers and review the recent and current uses of those in-vitro models to investigate T- and B-cell differentiation in mouse and man.