Intercellular Transfer
It is becoming increasingly clear that stem cell functions are regulated by both intrinsic stem cell factors and neighboring differentiated cells. Hematopoietic stem cells reside in a particularly complex niche, the bone marrow. This microenvironment comprises many different cell types such as fibroblasts, adipocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells. Recent reports established that osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells in the body, are a crucial component of the HSC niche in vivo. Despite knowledge of the importance of osteoblast contact for hematopoietic stem cell maintenance, how hematopoietic progenitor cells find osteoblasts within this microenvironment and what role the ensuing interaction between these cells plays in hematopoietic stem cell renewal and differentiation is not well understood. Therefore, we began investigating the cellular and molecular interactions that occur between hematopoietic progenitor and osteoblastic cells using live-cell imaging techniques
Figure: A. Quantum dot nanocrystals (red) label the uropod of KG1a cells. Arrow points to the uropod. B. The starting point of a time series that shows the quantum dot labeled uropod contact site between the CD34+ cell (asterisk) and the osteoblastic cells (green). Arrow points to the uropod. C. After three hours of co-culture, the quantum dot nanocrystals are transferred from the CD34+ cell (asterisk) to the osteoblastic cells (green).
For more information, contact Jennifer Gillette.
